REPUBLICANS URGED TO HELP GARDAI ON OMAGH BOMB
Republicans urged to help gardai on Omagh bomb
BY JOHN McCUSKER
THE father of a young schoolboy killed in the Omagh bombing has pressed the Sinn Fein leadership to urge republicans to help police nail the bombers.
Victor Barker, whose 12-year-old son James died in the 1998 blast, held a one and a half hour meeting with Martin McGuinness at Sinn Fein's Westminster office on Monday.
Following the discussion, Mr Barker told the UIsterHerald that he felt optimistic now that a channel of discussion had been established.
"I felt we didn't make a lot of progress but it opened a line of dialogue," he said. "They as politicians owe it to me and other families to change their position and call on republicans to assist the police hunt for the bombers.
"I did notice a very slight change in perspective in that they say they do recognise that the Garda Siochana is the legitimate police authority in the south of Ireland.
"It will now be interesting to see if they would change their position by encouraging people to come forward and give evidence."
The two men met shortly after Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams held talks with Tony Blair in Downing Street to discuss the Government's plans for an amnesty for terrorists on the run.
Although Sinn Fein condemned the Omagh bombing, it would not advise its supporters to supply evidence to the RUC or Police Service for Northern Ireland because it does not accept its legitimacy.
INFORMATION
Sinn Fein does recognise the Gardai, and Mr Barker hoped that Mr McGuinness would ask republicans with information about the Omagh attack to tell the police in Dublin.
Mr Barker said that when he met Martin McGuinness some time ago in Buncrana, the Sinn Fein negotiator told him that those who had carried out the attack were "as much his enemy as they were mine".
The Surrey based solicitor said the Sinn Fein minister would not make any promises to him but instead discussion centred around the understanding of each others position.
Mr Barker said: "I opened the meeting by saying to him that I wasn't there to be disrespectful or aggressive because I felt that had no productive aspect for either of us.
"We have to acknowledge and accept that he is a genuinely committed democratic politician that wants to solve the problems of Northern Ireland. If that is truly the case, then I'm here to talk."
Mr Barker said he believed republicans would never pass information relating to the Omagh bombing onto the PSNI. However, he felt hopeful that the dialogue with Sinn Fein may eventually lead to some understanding of each others points of view.
"We have opened up a forum for discussion which Martin McGuinness has said he wants to pursue with me.
"Their (Sinn Fein's) base strategy is that 'we can't help you, but we're prepared to talk to you.' What I'm saying is 'go to the Garda Siochana'," Mr Barker added.
BY JOHN McCUSKER
THE father of a young schoolboy killed in the Omagh bombing has pressed the Sinn Fein leadership to urge republicans to help police nail the bombers.
Victor Barker, whose 12-year-old son James died in the 1998 blast, held a one and a half hour meeting with Martin McGuinness at Sinn Fein's Westminster office on Monday.
Following the discussion, Mr Barker told the UIsterHerald that he felt optimistic now that a channel of discussion had been established.
"I felt we didn't make a lot of progress but it opened a line of dialogue," he said. "They as politicians owe it to me and other families to change their position and call on republicans to assist the police hunt for the bombers.
"I did notice a very slight change in perspective in that they say they do recognise that the Garda Siochana is the legitimate police authority in the south of Ireland.
"It will now be interesting to see if they would change their position by encouraging people to come forward and give evidence."
The two men met shortly after Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams held talks with Tony Blair in Downing Street to discuss the Government's plans for an amnesty for terrorists on the run.
Although Sinn Fein condemned the Omagh bombing, it would not advise its supporters to supply evidence to the RUC or Police Service for Northern Ireland because it does not accept its legitimacy.
INFORMATION
Sinn Fein does recognise the Gardai, and Mr Barker hoped that Mr McGuinness would ask republicans with information about the Omagh attack to tell the police in Dublin.
Mr Barker said that when he met Martin McGuinness some time ago in Buncrana, the Sinn Fein negotiator told him that those who had carried out the attack were "as much his enemy as they were mine".
The Surrey based solicitor said the Sinn Fein minister would not make any promises to him but instead discussion centred around the understanding of each others position.
Mr Barker said: "I opened the meeting by saying to him that I wasn't there to be disrespectful or aggressive because I felt that had no productive aspect for either of us.
"We have to acknowledge and accept that he is a genuinely committed democratic politician that wants to solve the problems of Northern Ireland. If that is truly the case, then I'm here to talk."
Mr Barker said he believed republicans would never pass information relating to the Omagh bombing onto the PSNI. However, he felt hopeful that the dialogue with Sinn Fein may eventually lead to some understanding of each others points of view.
"We have opened up a forum for discussion which Martin McGuinness has said he wants to pursue with me.
"Their (Sinn Fein's) base strategy is that 'we can't help you, but we're prepared to talk to you.' What I'm saying is 'go to the Garda Siochana'," Mr Barker added.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0992
Published Date: 28-Mar-02
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