MACKEY DOES U-TURN ON USE OF WORD CONDEMN
Mackey does U-turn on use of word condemn
Cllr refutes claims Sovereignty group is linked with outrage
OMAGH'S public face of dissident Republicanism, Francis Mackey, who earlier this week, refused to condemn the 500lb bomb, did a dramatic u-turn yesterday afternoon, when he issued a statement to the local press, voicing his condemnation
Mr Mackey, who is councillor for Omagh town, said he wanted to set the record straight against the media, which he claimed, 'had totally misrepresented his position over the past days'.
"Contrary to reports that I did not condemn the terrible tragedy, may I say this is not true. At the Council meeting on Monday morning, Omagh Council agreed a formal response of which I was part, to condemn the Market Street bomb.
"Later that day, I continued to make my position clear when I said 'The killing of innocent people cannot be justified in any circumstances".
He added "I totally condemn Saturday's atrocity".'
On Monday, Mr Mackey, a high profile member of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, spoke directly after an emergency meeting of Omagh District Council, when he was adamant that he would not engage in "word games" by using the term "condemn".
However, he did say that there was "no justification under any circumstances" for the killing of civilians and strongly refuted claims that his Movement had any connection with the bombing.
The councillor - who joined the Committee in November, 1997, and was later expelled from Sinn Fein, held a press conference on the steps of the Council offices and - was faced with a barrage of questions from media and print press.
Jostled by reporters and hit with a stream of questions on the Committee's reaction to the worst atrocity to hit the Six Counties, public words of condemnation were not forthcoming from the councillor, nor did he give his view of the bombers.
Just minutes earlier he stood with Council colleagues in a one minute silence to remember the innocent dead.
He also signed a book of condolences, the first opened, at Omagh council offices after a emergency session of the authority.
When persistently questioned the councillor said "We are back to word games here. No amount of words can alleviate the suffering of the bereaved and injured. I have categorically stated that there can be no justification for what took place.
"This is the playing of words by the media which is consistently done at the behest of political figures.
"Someone came to Omagh last Saturday, I do not know the circumstances, the facts may never be known. But the reality is that what took place was a terrible, terrible tragedy. This is not a time for political commentary. I am here to express my heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved and injured.
"This is not a time for cheap political point scoring. When the facts are more clear I will be back to speak to you.
He categorically rejected claims that the Sovereignty Committee had any connection with the weekend bombing.
"I want to lay lie to what is being said by the Chief Constable, Bertie Ahern, Tony Blair, and others, that the 32 County Sovereignty Movement has any connection with what took place in Omagh. I categorically reject that.
"I am saying that I, and the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, is not involved in any military activity.
When asked if he felt any moral responsibility the councillor said he did not know who planted the bomb on Saturday.
He added " All of us have a responsibility how we deal with the press, and how you present that and what the public perception of that is."
Claiming to be a victim of a campaign of demonisation by the government and the RUC he said, "They are looking for a public face, like myself. At all times I have been open and honest in expressing the Republican analysis
"They are demonising me for that honest and open expression of political opinion. This also happened to me when I was in Sinn Fein."
At the outset of the question and answer session the councillor gave his personal reaction to the bombing.
"I have just come out of a very sombre Council meeting where each of us expressed sadness, a heartfelt sadness, at the disaster that took place in Omagh on Saturday.
"This is a tragedy that can only be described as a whole magnitude of catastrophe.
"I, over the past few days, have had feelings of numbness and sympathy to all those bereaved, the many hundreds of injured and those in hospital who are seriously and critically injured.
"This is a terrible tragedy for the people of Omagh and everyone who has been affected by it. Words cannot describe the feelings that people have.
"Omagh needs time to mourn. It is incumbent on us all to allow the bereaved, injured and people generally time to mourn, time to rebuild our town and our lives.
"No amount of words can express how I feel, or how the people of Omagh feel."
Cllr refutes claims Sovereignty group is linked with outrage
OMAGH'S public face of dissident Republicanism, Francis Mackey, who earlier this week, refused to condemn the 500lb bomb, did a dramatic u-turn yesterday afternoon, when he issued a statement to the local press, voicing his condemnation
Mr Mackey, who is councillor for Omagh town, said he wanted to set the record straight against the media, which he claimed, 'had totally misrepresented his position over the past days'.
"Contrary to reports that I did not condemn the terrible tragedy, may I say this is not true. At the Council meeting on Monday morning, Omagh Council agreed a formal response of which I was part, to condemn the Market Street bomb.
"Later that day, I continued to make my position clear when I said 'The killing of innocent people cannot be justified in any circumstances".
He added "I totally condemn Saturday's atrocity".'
On Monday, Mr Mackey, a high profile member of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, spoke directly after an emergency meeting of Omagh District Council, when he was adamant that he would not engage in "word games" by using the term "condemn".
However, he did say that there was "no justification under any circumstances" for the killing of civilians and strongly refuted claims that his Movement had any connection with the bombing.
The councillor - who joined the Committee in November, 1997, and was later expelled from Sinn Fein, held a press conference on the steps of the Council offices and - was faced with a barrage of questions from media and print press.
Jostled by reporters and hit with a stream of questions on the Committee's reaction to the worst atrocity to hit the Six Counties, public words of condemnation were not forthcoming from the councillor, nor did he give his view of the bombers.
Just minutes earlier he stood with Council colleagues in a one minute silence to remember the innocent dead.
He also signed a book of condolences, the first opened, at Omagh council offices after a emergency session of the authority.
When persistently questioned the councillor said "We are back to word games here. No amount of words can alleviate the suffering of the bereaved and injured. I have categorically stated that there can be no justification for what took place.
"This is the playing of words by the media which is consistently done at the behest of political figures.
"Someone came to Omagh last Saturday, I do not know the circumstances, the facts may never be known. But the reality is that what took place was a terrible, terrible tragedy. This is not a time for political commentary. I am here to express my heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved and injured.
"This is not a time for cheap political point scoring. When the facts are more clear I will be back to speak to you.
He categorically rejected claims that the Sovereignty Committee had any connection with the weekend bombing.
"I want to lay lie to what is being said by the Chief Constable, Bertie Ahern, Tony Blair, and others, that the 32 County Sovereignty Movement has any connection with what took place in Omagh. I categorically reject that.
"I am saying that I, and the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, is not involved in any military activity.
When asked if he felt any moral responsibility the councillor said he did not know who planted the bomb on Saturday.
He added " All of us have a responsibility how we deal with the press, and how you present that and what the public perception of that is."
Claiming to be a victim of a campaign of demonisation by the government and the RUC he said, "They are looking for a public face, like myself. At all times I have been open and honest in expressing the Republican analysis
"They are demonising me for that honest and open expression of political opinion. This also happened to me when I was in Sinn Fein."
At the outset of the question and answer session the councillor gave his personal reaction to the bombing.
"I have just come out of a very sombre Council meeting where each of us expressed sadness, a heartfelt sadness, at the disaster that took place in Omagh on Saturday.
"This is a tragedy that can only be described as a whole magnitude of catastrophe.
"I, over the past few days, have had feelings of numbness and sympathy to all those bereaved, the many hundreds of injured and those in hospital who are seriously and critically injured.
"This is a terrible tragedy for the people of Omagh and everyone who has been affected by it. Words cannot describe the feelings that people have.
"Omagh needs time to mourn. It is incumbent on us all to allow the bereaved, injured and people generally time to mourn, time to rebuild our town and our lives.
"No amount of words can express how I feel, or how the people of Omagh feel."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0055
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
Related Images
