GAY BYRNE WISHES OMAGH BOMBERS NOTHING BUT ILL
Gay Byrne wishes Omagh bombers 'nothing but ill'
FORMER RTE star Gay Byrne has slammed the Omagh bombers and said that he wishes them nothing but ill.
Speaking during his visit to Omagh on Friday evening, where he switched on the Christmas lights, Gay said that whilst he recognised that his words did not hold much Christmas sentiment, and he would be criticised by the clergy, he nonetheless was speaking his mind.
He said that he visited the bomb site and the remembrance garden during the Summer and was overwhelmed by sadness at what had happened there.
"But as I walked away from the site, my sadness gave way to anger against the perpetrators of such an atrocity. I cannot find forgiveness in my heart for those people. I know I am expected not to bear a grudge, but I am afraid I do - I wish them nothing but ill."
He said he was well aware that his words would not be approved by many that feel there should be forgiveness for those who do wrong.
"However, the one consolation is the knowledge that good conquers evil. What happened here was a manifestation of evil. But the people of Omagh have shown love in conquering their hatred and forgiveness instead of vengeance.
"I hope that you have an enjoyable and happy a Christmas as is possible in the circumstances. Try and be nice to each other and kind to each other, because that is the way you will conquer the badness which caused Omagh."
Gay Byrne said he was delighted to be in Omagh with his family and said since leaving the Late Late Show and his radio programme, he has had a great year.
He said he had been thanked for his efforts for Omagh, because of the fund-raising show he put on, but he went on to say, "It was not Gay Byrne or anybody in RTE who did anything, it was the people of Omagh who helped themselves.
"It was they who helped themselves all the way through. I was asked for my support and I gave it, but the main idea came from the Corrs. They first came to us with the idea of doing the show and they set the ball rolling and other agencies came on board. That was the wonderful thing about it."
FORMER RTE star Gay Byrne has slammed the Omagh bombers and said that he wishes them nothing but ill.
Speaking during his visit to Omagh on Friday evening, where he switched on the Christmas lights, Gay said that whilst he recognised that his words did not hold much Christmas sentiment, and he would be criticised by the clergy, he nonetheless was speaking his mind.
He said that he visited the bomb site and the remembrance garden during the Summer and was overwhelmed by sadness at what had happened there.
"But as I walked away from the site, my sadness gave way to anger against the perpetrators of such an atrocity. I cannot find forgiveness in my heart for those people. I know I am expected not to bear a grudge, but I am afraid I do - I wish them nothing but ill."
He said he was well aware that his words would not be approved by many that feel there should be forgiveness for those who do wrong.
"However, the one consolation is the knowledge that good conquers evil. What happened here was a manifestation of evil. But the people of Omagh have shown love in conquering their hatred and forgiveness instead of vengeance.
"I hope that you have an enjoyable and happy a Christmas as is possible in the circumstances. Try and be nice to each other and kind to each other, because that is the way you will conquer the badness which caused Omagh."
Gay Byrne said he was delighted to be in Omagh with his family and said since leaving the Late Late Show and his radio programme, he has had a great year.
He said he had been thanked for his efforts for Omagh, because of the fund-raising show he put on, but he went on to say, "It was not Gay Byrne or anybody in RTE who did anything, it was the people of Omagh who helped themselves.
"It was they who helped themselves all the way through. I was asked for my support and I gave it, but the main idea came from the Corrs. They first came to us with the idea of doing the show and they set the ball rolling and other agencies came on board. That was the wonderful thing about it."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0602
Published Date: 02-Dec-99
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