OMAGH SELF-HELP GROUP MEETS JUSTICE MINISTER
Omagh self help group meets Justice Minister
Members of the Omagh Support ad Self Help Group which represents the families of those killed and injured in the Omagh bomb had their first ever meeting with a Minister of the Irish Republic this week.
On Tuesday night eight members of the group had a two hour meeting with the Republic's Justice minister John O'Donoghue to discuss the progress in the investigation.
Chairman of the Self Help and Support Group Michael Gallagher said that the representatives of the families were 'frank and forceful' with the Minister on some issues.
However, he added that the Minister was very supportive and positive. The group highlighted what it believed were a number of deficiencies in the government's handling of the matter. In particular, the group stressed that in the case of the murdered journalist Veronica Guerin, the government seized the assets of those believed to have been involved but that, to date, no assets have been seized in terrorist related cases.
The group also raised the issue of the lenient sentences handed down to members of these proscribed organisation when the appear before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. The families of the victims said that they did not think that the sentences reflected the seriousness of the crimes.
It was also put to the Minister that had the same number of Gardai and soldiers patrolling the border during the Foot and Mouth Disease scare been deployed prior to the Omagh bombing it might never have happened. Mr Gallagher said that the government had no problems acting when agriculture was at risk but used the argument of insufficient resources in other circumstances.
Minister O'Donoghue, responsive to the concerns of the group, Mr Gallagher said that the meeting was very useful; "It helped us to get an insight into the Justice Department's views of the whole terrorist situation and for them to get an insight into how vigorous we are being in our pursuit of these people."
The Minister pointed out that it took four and a half years to see a measure of justice in the Guerin Case. At the close of the meeting, Minister O'Donoghue agreed to set up a meeting between the families and the Garda Commissioner, Pat Byrne.
Members of the Omagh Support ad Self Help Group which represents the families of those killed and injured in the Omagh bomb had their first ever meeting with a Minister of the Irish Republic this week.
On Tuesday night eight members of the group had a two hour meeting with the Republic's Justice minister John O'Donoghue to discuss the progress in the investigation.
Chairman of the Self Help and Support Group Michael Gallagher said that the representatives of the families were 'frank and forceful' with the Minister on some issues.
However, he added that the Minister was very supportive and positive. The group highlighted what it believed were a number of deficiencies in the government's handling of the matter. In particular, the group stressed that in the case of the murdered journalist Veronica Guerin, the government seized the assets of those believed to have been involved but that, to date, no assets have been seized in terrorist related cases.
The group also raised the issue of the lenient sentences handed down to members of these proscribed organisation when the appear before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. The families of the victims said that they did not think that the sentences reflected the seriousness of the crimes.
It was also put to the Minister that had the same number of Gardai and soldiers patrolling the border during the Foot and Mouth Disease scare been deployed prior to the Omagh bombing it might never have happened. Mr Gallagher said that the government had no problems acting when agriculture was at risk but used the argument of insufficient resources in other circumstances.
Minister O'Donoghue, responsive to the concerns of the group, Mr Gallagher said that the meeting was very useful; "It helped us to get an insight into the Justice Department's views of the whole terrorist situation and for them to get an insight into how vigorous we are being in our pursuit of these people."
The Minister pointed out that it took four and a half years to see a measure of justice in the Guerin Case. At the close of the meeting, Minister O'Donoghue agreed to set up a meeting between the families and the Garda Commissioner, Pat Byrne.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0750
Published Date: 22-Mar-01
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