PRIEST CALLS FOR RONNIE FLANAGAN TO RESIGN
Priest calls for Ronnie Flanagan to resign
A PRIEST who tended the dying and injured moments after the Market Street explosion said he is appalled that anyone would contemplate withholding information on the bomb attack.
Fr Donal Gillespie - a native of Omagh and now parish priest in Bridgend in Wales - posed the question: "What would it be like if, three years on, it was revealed that people in the United States had withheld information about the September 11 bombing?"
Fr Gillespie was speaking following allegations that RUC Special Branch knew of the planned attack well in advance of the blast which killed and maimed innocent civilians.
"I am appalled at the idea that anyone withheld information, which I believe is a criminal offence." he said this week.
"I can still hear the bomb and the roar of the people. I can still see the dead people on the street and the people at Tyrone County Hospital who were cared for so carefully.
"For the people in Omagh who lost their lives and their families, they are as dear to those bereaved and injured as the people in the United States.
"With such a rush to fight terrorism, both nationally and internationally, this latest development just beggars belief. I think it needs to be dealt with immediately at an international level."
Fr Gillespie said he believed the individual officers concerned should be held to account for their inaction. And he also felt RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan should now go.
"If someone in the community had information and didn't give it, they would be held to account. I can imagine that the people who gave evidence and who gave help to the security forces at the time would be absolutely outraged that there were those within the security compounds who withheld information," he added.
A PRIEST who tended the dying and injured moments after the Market Street explosion said he is appalled that anyone would contemplate withholding information on the bomb attack.
Fr Donal Gillespie - a native of Omagh and now parish priest in Bridgend in Wales - posed the question: "What would it be like if, three years on, it was revealed that people in the United States had withheld information about the September 11 bombing?"
Fr Gillespie was speaking following allegations that RUC Special Branch knew of the planned attack well in advance of the blast which killed and maimed innocent civilians.
"I am appalled at the idea that anyone withheld information, which I believe is a criminal offence." he said this week.
"I can still hear the bomb and the roar of the people. I can still see the dead people on the street and the people at Tyrone County Hospital who were cared for so carefully.
"For the people in Omagh who lost their lives and their families, they are as dear to those bereaved and injured as the people in the United States.
"With such a rush to fight terrorism, both nationally and internationally, this latest development just beggars belief. I think it needs to be dealt with immediately at an international level."
Fr Gillespie said he believed the individual officers concerned should be held to account for their inaction. And he also felt RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan should now go.
"If someone in the community had information and didn't give it, they would be held to account. I can imagine that the people who gave evidence and who gave help to the security forces at the time would be absolutely outraged that there were those within the security compounds who withheld information," he added.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0896
Published Date: 20-Dec-01
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.