BOMB VICTIM'S FATHER SENDS DRAMATIC PROTEST TO BLAIR
Bomb victim's father sends dramatic protest to Blair
BY JACQUELINE COURTNEY
THE distraught father of one of the schoolboy victims of the Omagh bomb has sent disturbing Coroners' Court pictures of his son to British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The dramatic action was taken by Victor Barker, formerly of Buncrana, whose 12-year-old son James was killed in the bomb. The passionate new twist in the Omagh bomb saga illustrates Mr Barker's utter fury at what he sees as new concessions being granted to Sinn Fein.
Mr Barker sent three pictures and a letter to the Prime Minister, attacking moves to grant Sinn Fein public cash and office space at Westminster.
His son James was one of the 29 victims killed, along with unborn twins, in the August 1998 Omagh blast.
Mr Barker called on Mr Blair to show the disturbing images to Sinn Fein MPs Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness "to remind them of the carnage caused by the Real IRA".
Mr Barker said he had written to Prime Minister Blair about what he regards as the scandal of giving Sinn Fein offices and funds from the British Parliament. While seeking that facility, he said, these people refuse to encourage any of their supporters to give information concerning those responsible for the Omagh bomb.
He alleged: "The people who did that are their former colleagues and to pretend they have no association with them is absolute nonsense."
In his scathing letter, Mr Barker condemns the Prime Minister for changing his stance regarding the IRA and using taxpayers' money to pay "Mr Adams and his cohorts a sum of approximately �500,000 per annum".
He told Mr Blair in the letter: "Indirectly a small proportion of my own taxed income will find itself in their pockets, yet you will not even challenge them on their refusal to call upon their supporters to give evidence or information to the Gardai about those responsible for the Omagh bomb."
And he angrily asked, "How do you think that makes myself and my family feel?"
Mr Barker urged the Prime Minister and Secretary of State John Reid to set up a meeting with the Sinn Fein leaders to discuss their stance on the Omagh atrocity.
His letter was written a week before Christmas and concluded: "I hope you and your family have a happy Christmas.
"I shall once again be seated at the table without my son, James, of whom, among my memories, are the attached photographs, which you may not wish to open at all.
"But on their next visit I would ask you to show Mr Adams and Mr McGuinness what effectively is the product of their associates' handiwork," said Mr Barker.
Sinn Fein's four MPs Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness, Pat Doherty and Michelle Gildernew can now claim allowances, worth up to �100,000 a year each. They also plan to open offices and hire staff to work for the party in London.
However, because the Sinn Fein MPs have refused to take an oath of allegiance to the Queen, they will not be paid their salaries.
BY JACQUELINE COURTNEY
THE distraught father of one of the schoolboy victims of the Omagh bomb has sent disturbing Coroners' Court pictures of his son to British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The dramatic action was taken by Victor Barker, formerly of Buncrana, whose 12-year-old son James was killed in the bomb. The passionate new twist in the Omagh bomb saga illustrates Mr Barker's utter fury at what he sees as new concessions being granted to Sinn Fein.
Mr Barker sent three pictures and a letter to the Prime Minister, attacking moves to grant Sinn Fein public cash and office space at Westminster.
His son James was one of the 29 victims killed, along with unborn twins, in the August 1998 Omagh blast.
Mr Barker called on Mr Blair to show the disturbing images to Sinn Fein MPs Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness "to remind them of the carnage caused by the Real IRA".
Mr Barker said he had written to Prime Minister Blair about what he regards as the scandal of giving Sinn Fein offices and funds from the British Parliament. While seeking that facility, he said, these people refuse to encourage any of their supporters to give information concerning those responsible for the Omagh bomb.
He alleged: "The people who did that are their former colleagues and to pretend they have no association with them is absolute nonsense."
In his scathing letter, Mr Barker condemns the Prime Minister for changing his stance regarding the IRA and using taxpayers' money to pay "Mr Adams and his cohorts a sum of approximately �500,000 per annum".
He told Mr Blair in the letter: "Indirectly a small proportion of my own taxed income will find itself in their pockets, yet you will not even challenge them on their refusal to call upon their supporters to give evidence or information to the Gardai about those responsible for the Omagh bomb."
And he angrily asked, "How do you think that makes myself and my family feel?"
Mr Barker urged the Prime Minister and Secretary of State John Reid to set up a meeting with the Sinn Fein leaders to discuss their stance on the Omagh atrocity.
His letter was written a week before Christmas and concluded: "I hope you and your family have a happy Christmas.
"I shall once again be seated at the table without my son, James, of whom, among my memories, are the attached photographs, which you may not wish to open at all.
"But on their next visit I would ask you to show Mr Adams and Mr McGuinness what effectively is the product of their associates' handiwork," said Mr Barker.
Sinn Fein's four MPs Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness, Pat Doherty and Michelle Gildernew can now claim allowances, worth up to �100,000 a year each. They also plan to open offices and hire staff to work for the party in London.
However, because the Sinn Fein MPs have refused to take an oath of allegiance to the Queen, they will not be paid their salaries.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0915
Published Date: 10-Jan-02
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