MURDERER'S APOLOGY DESCRIBED AS PATHETIC
Murderer's apology described as pathetic
Real IRA announce suspension of military operations
THE Real IRA, responsible for last Saturday's massacre, has announced a suspension of all "military operations".
The dramatic announcement unfolded late on Tuesday night when in a coded statement to a Belfast newspaper the dissident Republicans said they were calling off the campaign of terror to embark on a "process of consultation on our future direction".
The Real IRA had earlier claimed responsibility for the Omagh bombing and apologised saying it was never the intention to "at any time kill any civilians".
However, both the apology and the cessation has met with an angry reaction in Omagh where the community and politicians said it was too little, too late.
Announcing the suspension in a statement to the Irish News at 11.35 on Tuesday night the statement read: "As a direct result of the Omagh tragedy, and also in response to the appeals of Bertie Ahern and others we are currently embarking on a process of consultation on our future direction.
"In the meantime all military operations have been suspended from 12 midnight."
The spokesman said there was "no timeframe" for the process of consultation.
Just hours earlier the Real IRA contacted the Dublin office of the Irish News and admitted responsibility for the Omagh bomb, which killed 28 people and injured 220.
Claims that it had given enough warning have been rejected by the RUC who said the group's statement should be treated with the contempt it deserves.
And Ulster Television, which received two calls from the bombers, insisted the warning claimed the bomb had been left at the Courthouse. The Real IRA claims it never, at any time, gave the courthouse as the location.
In its statement the group claimed it had given enough warning time to clear the area of members of the public.
It said three warnings were made and there were 40 minute warnings on each of them.
"Two had been made to UTV and one to Samaritans in Coleraine.
"Each time the call was made it was very clear and the people talked back. The location was 300-400 yards from the Courthouse on the main street.
"At no time was it said it was near the courthouse. It was a commercial target."
The group also said it did not intend "at any time to kill any civilians."
It said the bomb attack was "part of an ongoing war against the Brits" adding "We offer apologies to the civilians."
UTV are insistent that two calls were made to the station within minutes, warning that a 500lb bomb had been left at the Courthouse.
And the RUC has said the dissident republicans responsible for the bombing could not diminish their responsibility for the Omagh attack.
"This is a pathetic attempt to justify or shift the blame for the murder of 28 men, women and children. It should be treated with the contempt it deserves."
Secretary of State, Mo Mowlam, described the claims of the dissident Republican grouping as "contemptible".
She accused the group of attempting to make "a pathetic attempt at an excuse for mass murder.
"I think it is contemptible and I think it is an insult to the people of Omagh who have done so much in the last days to try an overcome the worst ravages that the bombers created.
"The sole responsibility lies with the bombers and we and the Irish government will continue to do all we can to hunt them down.
Deputy First Minister, Seamus Mallon, said the group's claims were "callous and so pathetic it scarcely deserved a reply.
"It is an attempt to excuse the inexcusable," he sad.
"Murder can never be excused or justified, The people of Northern Ireland will treat the statement and its authors with the contempt they deserve."
Real IRA announce suspension of military operations
THE Real IRA, responsible for last Saturday's massacre, has announced a suspension of all "military operations".
The dramatic announcement unfolded late on Tuesday night when in a coded statement to a Belfast newspaper the dissident Republicans said they were calling off the campaign of terror to embark on a "process of consultation on our future direction".
The Real IRA had earlier claimed responsibility for the Omagh bombing and apologised saying it was never the intention to "at any time kill any civilians".
However, both the apology and the cessation has met with an angry reaction in Omagh where the community and politicians said it was too little, too late.
Announcing the suspension in a statement to the Irish News at 11.35 on Tuesday night the statement read: "As a direct result of the Omagh tragedy, and also in response to the appeals of Bertie Ahern and others we are currently embarking on a process of consultation on our future direction.
"In the meantime all military operations have been suspended from 12 midnight."
The spokesman said there was "no timeframe" for the process of consultation.
Just hours earlier the Real IRA contacted the Dublin office of the Irish News and admitted responsibility for the Omagh bomb, which killed 28 people and injured 220.
Claims that it had given enough warning have been rejected by the RUC who said the group's statement should be treated with the contempt it deserves.
And Ulster Television, which received two calls from the bombers, insisted the warning claimed the bomb had been left at the Courthouse. The Real IRA claims it never, at any time, gave the courthouse as the location.
In its statement the group claimed it had given enough warning time to clear the area of members of the public.
It said three warnings were made and there were 40 minute warnings on each of them.
"Two had been made to UTV and one to Samaritans in Coleraine.
"Each time the call was made it was very clear and the people talked back. The location was 300-400 yards from the Courthouse on the main street.
"At no time was it said it was near the courthouse. It was a commercial target."
The group also said it did not intend "at any time to kill any civilians."
It said the bomb attack was "part of an ongoing war against the Brits" adding "We offer apologies to the civilians."
UTV are insistent that two calls were made to the station within minutes, warning that a 500lb bomb had been left at the Courthouse.
And the RUC has said the dissident republicans responsible for the bombing could not diminish their responsibility for the Omagh attack.
"This is a pathetic attempt to justify or shift the blame for the murder of 28 men, women and children. It should be treated with the contempt it deserves."
Secretary of State, Mo Mowlam, described the claims of the dissident Republican grouping as "contemptible".
She accused the group of attempting to make "a pathetic attempt at an excuse for mass murder.
"I think it is contemptible and I think it is an insult to the people of Omagh who have done so much in the last days to try an overcome the worst ravages that the bombers created.
"The sole responsibility lies with the bombers and we and the Irish government will continue to do all we can to hunt them down.
Deputy First Minister, Seamus Mallon, said the group's claims were "callous and so pathetic it scarcely deserved a reply.
"It is an attempt to excuse the inexcusable," he sad.
"Murder can never be excused or justified, The people of Northern Ireland will treat the statement and its authors with the contempt they deserve."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0057
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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