PLANNED REAL IRA PARADE IS CONDEMNED
Planned Real IRA parade is condemned
By ADRIAN MULLAN
A proposed mass rally in Dublin by the 'Real' IRA and its supporters has caused anger amongst the relatives of the dead and survivors of the Omagh bomb blast.
The Easter parade to commemorate the 1916 rising it is claimed is being organised by a senior member of the Real IRA who is also allegedly a member of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee.
Members of the Omagh Self Help group which represents the families of people killed and injured in the Omagh bombing have expressed their revulsion at the plans for the parade.
A spokesman for the group met with the Republic's Justice Minister, John O'Donoghue, in the Dail for two hours on Tuesday evening to discuss several matters, amongst them the Real IRA parade.
The spokesman did not reveal the specifics of the conversation but did say that the Minister had been made aware of the group's concerns.
Nor has the Self Help and Support Group taken any firm decision as to what action it will take if the parade goes ahead. "We're realistic enough to know that people can parade where they like in Ireland. What we are concerned about is that they are using this parade to attempt to recruit new members."
The spokesman for the victims continued,"It's important to challenge these people at every opportunity. Only the arrogance of these people the Real IRA and 32 County Sovereignty Movement can bring us more excuses as to why they won't stop their campaign. They are bringing us nothing but misery. They can't bomb people into changing their minds."
"As long as they are organising and trying to recruit, we'll be there to remind them what they've done, we won't let people forget what they done."
One time Civil Rights activist and now TD in the Dail Austin Currie has called on the march to be banned. "I will be raising this matter in the Dail and I am sure I will not be the only one to do so", said Mr Currie.
A national newspaper reported that Omagh Councillor, Francis Mackey, who is also the Chairman of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, would be the guest speaker at the event, however, Mr Mackey was unavailable for comment.
In a separate development, West-Tyrone MP, William Thompson, speaking on the prevention and suppression of terrorism in the House of Commons pressed the government to clear up the legal uncertainty over the Real IRA's status "I wish to emphasise the difficulty over usage of the term 'Irish Republican Army'. I know it has been said that the term is used in a generic way to cover both the Provisional IRA and the Real IRA. That may be difficult to argue in legal terms, so the order should be made explicit in its references to the Real IRA. This way there will be no doubt or controversy in any legal matters that arise."
He added, "We must bear in mind that the Real IRA is a terrorist organisation that killed twenty nine people in my constituency. Its members are carrying on terrorist activities on the mainland and it remains a very dangerous organisation It is surely then right that it should be explicitly named and proscribed so there can be no doubt."
By ADRIAN MULLAN
A proposed mass rally in Dublin by the 'Real' IRA and its supporters has caused anger amongst the relatives of the dead and survivors of the Omagh bomb blast.
The Easter parade to commemorate the 1916 rising it is claimed is being organised by a senior member of the Real IRA who is also allegedly a member of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee.
Members of the Omagh Self Help group which represents the families of people killed and injured in the Omagh bombing have expressed their revulsion at the plans for the parade.
A spokesman for the group met with the Republic's Justice Minister, John O'Donoghue, in the Dail for two hours on Tuesday evening to discuss several matters, amongst them the Real IRA parade.
The spokesman did not reveal the specifics of the conversation but did say that the Minister had been made aware of the group's concerns.
Nor has the Self Help and Support Group taken any firm decision as to what action it will take if the parade goes ahead. "We're realistic enough to know that people can parade where they like in Ireland. What we are concerned about is that they are using this parade to attempt to recruit new members."
The spokesman for the victims continued,"It's important to challenge these people at every opportunity. Only the arrogance of these people the Real IRA and 32 County Sovereignty Movement can bring us more excuses as to why they won't stop their campaign. They are bringing us nothing but misery. They can't bomb people into changing their minds."
"As long as they are organising and trying to recruit, we'll be there to remind them what they've done, we won't let people forget what they done."
One time Civil Rights activist and now TD in the Dail Austin Currie has called on the march to be banned. "I will be raising this matter in the Dail and I am sure I will not be the only one to do so", said Mr Currie.
A national newspaper reported that Omagh Councillor, Francis Mackey, who is also the Chairman of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, would be the guest speaker at the event, however, Mr Mackey was unavailable for comment.
In a separate development, West-Tyrone MP, William Thompson, speaking on the prevention and suppression of terrorism in the House of Commons pressed the government to clear up the legal uncertainty over the Real IRA's status "I wish to emphasise the difficulty over usage of the term 'Irish Republican Army'. I know it has been said that the term is used in a generic way to cover both the Provisional IRA and the Real IRA. That may be difficult to argue in legal terms, so the order should be made explicit in its references to the Real IRA. This way there will be no doubt or controversy in any legal matters that arise."
He added, "We must bear in mind that the Real IRA is a terrorist organisation that killed twenty nine people in my constituency. Its members are carrying on terrorist activities on the mainland and it remains a very dangerous organisation It is surely then right that it should be explicitly named and proscribed so there can be no doubt."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0749
Published Date: 22-Mar-01
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