NEW PUSH TO NAIL THE OMAGH BOMBERS
New push to nail the Omagh bombers
BY JOHN McCUSKER
POLICE chiefs from both sides of the border have launched a fresh appeal for information in a bid to bring criminal prosecutions against those responsible for the Omagh bombing.
On the third anniversary of the atrocity, senior officers from the RUC and Garda Siochana appealed to anyone with knowledge of the bombers' movements in the days leading up to the attack to have the 'moral courage' to help bring those who carried it out to justice.
Omagh RUC chief, Superintendent James Baxter and Superintendent Tadgh Foley from Monaghan were joined by Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Self Help and Support Group during the launch of a renewed push to nail the bombers.
The move was initiated by RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan and Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne in the hopes that fresh evidence could help put those suspected of planting the 350lb car bomb in Market Street behind bars.
Appealing for help in solving the crime, Michael Gallagher whose son Adrian was among the death toll said it was now only a matter of time before the bombers killed yet again.
The key to solving the crime he believed lay within the Republican community. And he appealed to all decent people with even a thread of knowledge to pass on the information to the RUC and Gardai.
Re-affirming his commitment to bring to justice those responsible for the atrocity, Supt Baxter said three years down the line his officers were still confident those who carried out the crime would face the courts.
"The emotions which we all feel and have felt over the last three years continue," Supt Baxter said.
"Nevertheless, we would appeal to the people who can give any information at all that will assist us to continue our enquiry, to provide that information. It is only with the public support that we will be able to bring to justice once and for all those who were responsible for murder in this town."
His Gardai counterpart, Supt Tadgh Foley encouraged those with information to get 'off the fence' and provide evidence which would help the enquiry. "It is our wish here today that we would jog peoples memory again and bring them back to the dreadful day on 15 August 1998 so that they can help us to bring these people to justice," he said.
To date, the RUC has interviewed 7,700 people, taken more than 3,250 statements and carried out a number of arrests as part of their investigation into the attack.
In the Republic, Gardai investigators have made 78 arrests, carried out over 2,000 interviews and 140 searches. Four people have appeared before courts one in connection with Omagh.
Lawrence Rushe, who lost his wife Libby in the tragedy, said he was only interested in 'finding the guilty.'
He accused both governments of adopting a 'defeatist attitude" in their efforts to trace the bombers. And he added that he felt disgusted at the lack of co-operation from all levels. Michael Gallagher explained how the anniversary date represented a particularly emotional time for the families involved. He welcomed the fresh appeal launched by both police forces.
He said: "I feel that the key to this investigation lies within the Republican community and I would appeal to those people out there, the decent people within that community, to have the courage to come forward.
"We have often seen people within the leadership in the Republican community to demand justice. And I feel that Omagh shouldn't be singled out from any other atrocity. We should get the same attention. There is only one side in justice and I don't think anybody has any doubt what happened in Omagh."
Mr Gallagher questioned legislative measures drawn up by both governments in the wake of the tragedy. Society he said needed to ask itself whether the effectiveness of the law had now become so blunted that those responsible could circumnavigate it.
"We have seen the atrocity in Omagh. They said they were sorry for what they had done. And yet they have continued to carry on bombing here in Northern Ireland and on the mainland. I feel that it is only a matter of time before these people do kill again," Mr Gallagher added.
Supt Baxter pointed out that there was a moral obligation on people who knew of such a heinous crime as this, where we had 29 men, women and children and two unborn babies were slaughtered in the town of Omagh.
"If that does not prick anyone's conscience who has information that can place those responsible in a court, then I don't know what would.
"I appeal to those people come forward, tell us what you know and let us do the rest. This investigation will only end when those responsible have been convicted of the terrible crimes they have committed."
Dismissing reports that the security forces ignored warnings that a bomb was planned for the town on the day in question the police chief said he knew personally a number of those killed and he felt 'abhorred' that anyone could suggest such a move.
"My officers had no knowledge that a bomb was coming into Omagh and had I had such information, I could assure you, we would not be sitting here today discussing the deaths of 29 innocent people slaughtered."
BY JOHN McCUSKER
POLICE chiefs from both sides of the border have launched a fresh appeal for information in a bid to bring criminal prosecutions against those responsible for the Omagh bombing.
On the third anniversary of the atrocity, senior officers from the RUC and Garda Siochana appealed to anyone with knowledge of the bombers' movements in the days leading up to the attack to have the 'moral courage' to help bring those who carried it out to justice.
Omagh RUC chief, Superintendent James Baxter and Superintendent Tadgh Foley from Monaghan were joined by Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Self Help and Support Group during the launch of a renewed push to nail the bombers.
The move was initiated by RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan and Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne in the hopes that fresh evidence could help put those suspected of planting the 350lb car bomb in Market Street behind bars.
Appealing for help in solving the crime, Michael Gallagher whose son Adrian was among the death toll said it was now only a matter of time before the bombers killed yet again.
The key to solving the crime he believed lay within the Republican community. And he appealed to all decent people with even a thread of knowledge to pass on the information to the RUC and Gardai.
Re-affirming his commitment to bring to justice those responsible for the atrocity, Supt Baxter said three years down the line his officers were still confident those who carried out the crime would face the courts.
"The emotions which we all feel and have felt over the last three years continue," Supt Baxter said.
"Nevertheless, we would appeal to the people who can give any information at all that will assist us to continue our enquiry, to provide that information. It is only with the public support that we will be able to bring to justice once and for all those who were responsible for murder in this town."
His Gardai counterpart, Supt Tadgh Foley encouraged those with information to get 'off the fence' and provide evidence which would help the enquiry. "It is our wish here today that we would jog peoples memory again and bring them back to the dreadful day on 15 August 1998 so that they can help us to bring these people to justice," he said.
To date, the RUC has interviewed 7,700 people, taken more than 3,250 statements and carried out a number of arrests as part of their investigation into the attack.
In the Republic, Gardai investigators have made 78 arrests, carried out over 2,000 interviews and 140 searches. Four people have appeared before courts one in connection with Omagh.
Lawrence Rushe, who lost his wife Libby in the tragedy, said he was only interested in 'finding the guilty.'
He accused both governments of adopting a 'defeatist attitude" in their efforts to trace the bombers. And he added that he felt disgusted at the lack of co-operation from all levels. Michael Gallagher explained how the anniversary date represented a particularly emotional time for the families involved. He welcomed the fresh appeal launched by both police forces.
He said: "I feel that the key to this investigation lies within the Republican community and I would appeal to those people out there, the decent people within that community, to have the courage to come forward.
"We have often seen people within the leadership in the Republican community to demand justice. And I feel that Omagh shouldn't be singled out from any other atrocity. We should get the same attention. There is only one side in justice and I don't think anybody has any doubt what happened in Omagh."
Mr Gallagher questioned legislative measures drawn up by both governments in the wake of the tragedy. Society he said needed to ask itself whether the effectiveness of the law had now become so blunted that those responsible could circumnavigate it.
"We have seen the atrocity in Omagh. They said they were sorry for what they had done. And yet they have continued to carry on bombing here in Northern Ireland and on the mainland. I feel that it is only a matter of time before these people do kill again," Mr Gallagher added.
Supt Baxter pointed out that there was a moral obligation on people who knew of such a heinous crime as this, where we had 29 men, women and children and two unborn babies were slaughtered in the town of Omagh.
"If that does not prick anyone's conscience who has information that can place those responsible in a court, then I don't know what would.
"I appeal to those people come forward, tell us what you know and let us do the rest. This investigation will only end when those responsible have been convicted of the terrible crimes they have committed."
Dismissing reports that the security forces ignored warnings that a bomb was planned for the town on the day in question the police chief said he knew personally a number of those killed and he felt 'abhorred' that anyone could suggest such a move.
"My officers had no knowledge that a bomb was coming into Omagh and had I had such information, I could assure you, we would not be sitting here today discussing the deaths of 29 innocent people slaughtered."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0806
Published Date: 16-Aug-01
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