REAL IRA BAN WELCOMED BY VICTIMS' GROUP
Real IRA ban welcomed by Victims' Group
NEWS that the Real IRA has been added to a list of banned organisations in the US has been welcomed by the father of one of the Omagh bomb victims as long overdue.
Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Adrian in the Omagh atrocity, said it was particularly poignant that the announcement would come at a time when the Real IRA was still trying to murder people.
He said "After a two-and-a-half year campaign, I think this decision by the US authorities is long overdue.
The move would mean a freeze on the group's US assets, make fund-raising activities illegal and lead to those haying links with the group being denied visas.
Mr Gallagher said: "It was the victims' group who identified the fact that the US government had put out a terrorist list. We then canvassed the US, British and Irish governments in an effort to have the Real IRA included on that list. In January of this year I was in Washington and held talks with government officials in the White House and met with the Irish Ambassador.
"The US Intelligence Service has said the Real IRA caused the worst terrorist act in Europe in 1998. This ruling, therefore, has been long overdue and we feel that if there is a terrorist list then the Real IRA should be near the top of that list," Mr Gallagher added.
West Tyrone MP William Thompson welcomed fact that the Real IRA had been included in the list of banned organisations. He said he felt relative of those killed and injured in the August 1998 blast would be delighted to hear the news.
Mr Thompson added: " It is scandalous that an organisation which carried out such a horrendous act would be allowed to collect money in the States."
MORTAR BOMB
Meanwhile, the British Army regiment involved in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing has been targeted in a mortar bomb attack in South Armagh Members of the 1st Battalion Queen's Lancashire Regiment escaped injury in Tuesday night's attack after mortars were fired at their base in Bessbrook.
Members of the Victims' Group will tonight meet with representatives of the Compensation Agency in an effort to speed up payment to those affected by the Omagh blast.
Three members of the Agency's staff, including the the acting chief executive, are expected to attend the meeting which has been called by the group.
NEWS that the Real IRA has been added to a list of banned organisations in the US has been welcomed by the father of one of the Omagh bomb victims as long overdue.
Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Adrian in the Omagh atrocity, said it was particularly poignant that the announcement would come at a time when the Real IRA was still trying to murder people.
He said "After a two-and-a-half year campaign, I think this decision by the US authorities is long overdue.
The move would mean a freeze on the group's US assets, make fund-raising activities illegal and lead to those haying links with the group being denied visas.
Mr Gallagher said: "It was the victims' group who identified the fact that the US government had put out a terrorist list. We then canvassed the US, British and Irish governments in an effort to have the Real IRA included on that list. In January of this year I was in Washington and held talks with government officials in the White House and met with the Irish Ambassador.
"The US Intelligence Service has said the Real IRA caused the worst terrorist act in Europe in 1998. This ruling, therefore, has been long overdue and we feel that if there is a terrorist list then the Real IRA should be near the top of that list," Mr Gallagher added.
West Tyrone MP William Thompson welcomed fact that the Real IRA had been included in the list of banned organisations. He said he felt relative of those killed and injured in the August 1998 blast would be delighted to hear the news.
Mr Thompson added: " It is scandalous that an organisation which carried out such a horrendous act would be allowed to collect money in the States."
MORTAR BOMB
Meanwhile, the British Army regiment involved in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing has been targeted in a mortar bomb attack in South Armagh Members of the 1st Battalion Queen's Lancashire Regiment escaped injury in Tuesday night's attack after mortars were fired at their base in Bessbrook.
Members of the Victims' Group will tonight meet with representatives of the Compensation Agency in an effort to speed up payment to those affected by the Omagh blast.
Three members of the Agency's staff, including the the acting chief executive, are expected to attend the meeting which has been called by the group.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0767
Published Date: 17-May-01
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