PREMIERS SNUBBED US, SAY OMAGH RELATIVES
Premiers snubbed us, say Omagh relative
Omagh bomb victims' relatives claimed they had been 'snubbed' by both Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern.
They said both prime ministers had refused to meet them and referred them to other ministers, Downing Street, telling them that Des Browne, an NIQ undersecretary, would meet them while, in Dublin, the Irish minister delegated the task to Foreign Affairs Minister, Brian Cowen.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Adrian was killed in the atrocity, said: "We are very disappointed. We thought Tony Blair would be willing to meet the group. It's clear he does not want us bringing bad news to Downing Street."'
Laurence Rush, whose wife Elizabeth was killed, said: "It is definitely a snub. The letter from Downing Street was curt, not even compassionate or friendly. There was nothing to suggest Blair was interested and no promise of a future meeting.
"We also wanted to see Bertie Ahern to talk about Garda co-operation with the RUC in the investigation.
"We are following our own lines of enquiry and there are questions to be answered about the co-operation, but all we get from the Irish Government and ministers is an awesome silence."
Omagh bomb victims' relatives claimed they had been 'snubbed' by both Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern.
They said both prime ministers had refused to meet them and referred them to other ministers, Downing Street, telling them that Des Browne, an NIQ undersecretary, would meet them while, in Dublin, the Irish minister delegated the task to Foreign Affairs Minister, Brian Cowen.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Adrian was killed in the atrocity, said: "We are very disappointed. We thought Tony Blair would be willing to meet the group. It's clear he does not want us bringing bad news to Downing Street."'
Laurence Rush, whose wife Elizabeth was killed, said: "It is definitely a snub. The letter from Downing Street was curt, not even compassionate or friendly. There was nothing to suggest Blair was interested and no promise of a future meeting.
"We also wanted to see Bertie Ahern to talk about Garda co-operation with the RUC in the investigation.
"We are following our own lines of enquiry and there are questions to be answered about the co-operation, but all we get from the Irish Government and ministers is an awesome silence."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0977
Published Date: 21-Feb-02
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