PRESCOTT ADAMANT THAT PEACE PROCESS MUST NOT BE DERAILED
Prescott adamant that peace process must not be derailed
The Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott on his visit to Omagh, declared that the peace process must move onward at all costs despite Saturday's terrorist atrocity which left death and destruction in an instant.
Mr Prescott spoke of the horror for the local community when a bustling shopping day was transformed to into what he described as "an apocalypse of slaughter".
Standing close to the scene of the blast on Sunday morning, Mr Prescott condemned those responsible for the bomb attack, but insisted that the search for peace must continue.
Accompanied by Deputy Minister, Seamus Mallon and Ulster Unionist security spokesman, Ken Maginnis, the Deputy PM underlined the options which lie ahead.
"Are we going to go back to the dark period of more bombs, bullets and communities turning in on themselves? No we have to keep moving forward."
He said that he had come to survey the "appalling evil act perpetrated against the people of Northern Ireland".
"No-one can help but believe when you look at that sight, (that the bomb) was engineered to maximise injury to the people particularly to women and children. When you know there was an event (a cross-community carnival) to take place as well, it could have been worse."
"I welcome the fact that there has been universal condemnation against this minority of people who seek to destroy in such a way - and destroy the peace process itself."
Minutes before, Mr Prescott surveyed the scene of the attack and was brought to the heart of the blast zone by detectives.
He later said that the attack was a crime against the entire community - unionist and nationalist.
The Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott on his visit to Omagh, declared that the peace process must move onward at all costs despite Saturday's terrorist atrocity which left death and destruction in an instant.
Mr Prescott spoke of the horror for the local community when a bustling shopping day was transformed to into what he described as "an apocalypse of slaughter".
Standing close to the scene of the blast on Sunday morning, Mr Prescott condemned those responsible for the bomb attack, but insisted that the search for peace must continue.
Accompanied by Deputy Minister, Seamus Mallon and Ulster Unionist security spokesman, Ken Maginnis, the Deputy PM underlined the options which lie ahead.
"Are we going to go back to the dark period of more bombs, bullets and communities turning in on themselves? No we have to keep moving forward."
He said that he had come to survey the "appalling evil act perpetrated against the people of Northern Ireland".
"No-one can help but believe when you look at that sight, (that the bomb) was engineered to maximise injury to the people particularly to women and children. When you know there was an event (a cross-community carnival) to take place as well, it could have been worse."
"I welcome the fact that there has been universal condemnation against this minority of people who seek to destroy in such a way - and destroy the peace process itself."
Minutes before, Mr Prescott surveyed the scene of the attack and was brought to the heart of the blast zone by detectives.
He later said that the attack was a crime against the entire community - unionist and nationalist.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0067
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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