IRA MOVE THROWS UP SHARP LOCAL DIVISIONS
IRA move throws up sharp local divisions
BY ADRIAN MULLAN
THERE has been sharply divergent local reaction to this week's IRA apology to the families of its victims during the course of the Troubles. While some see the unprecedented move as a momentous boost for the peace process, others have dismissed it as empty propaganda.
In what is being interpreted by both governments and many analysts as a development of huge significance, the Provisional IRA apologised to the families of its victims. The carefully worded IRA statement, timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Bloody Friday, initially distinguished between "combatants" and "non-combatants".
However, in the body of the statement the "grief and pain" of the families all of the victims of violence combatants and non-combatants are recognised.
The statement also comes at a time when the peace process was deemed to be entering heavy waters with the Ulster Unionists putting extreme pressure on Tony Blair to impose sanctions on Sinn Fein - possibly even exclusion from the Assembly - in the wake of the Colombian arrests and recent street violence.
However, the importance of the statement was not lost on Mr Blair who, following the publication of the apology, said he believed republicans were further than they'd ever been from returning to violence. Despite that confidence, which was shared by Britain's Secretary of State John Reid, unionist politicians, and unionist victims' groups have variously dismissed the apology as "a stunt, hypocrisy and empty words".
A spokesman for the West Tyrone Voice, a largely Protestant victims' group, told the Ulster Herald. his members were "gutted and appalled" at the hypocrisy of the IRA. He went on to call for the words of the IRA to be followed by deeds, namely the dismantling of the military machine.
However, Omagh District Council Chairman Pat McDonnell enthusiastically welcomed the IRA apology. He called on victims and their families on all sides to lead in the process of forgiveness.
Michael Gallagher whose son Adrian was killed in the Omagh bomb and whose brother, Hugh was murdered by the IRA in 1984 after he had left the UDR, said there was nothing in the apology for his family, in that, those who issued the statement would have regarded Hugh as a combatant, and Adrian, along with 30 others was murdered by the Real IRA.
The very language of the statement had been interpreted as enormously important in that it departs from the traditional denunciations and statements of militants defiance, to accept mistakes, express remorse and reaffirm its commitment to peace process. Whilst David Trimble said he required more from the IRA than words, Deputy First Minister, Mark Durkan welcomed the apology which he said was long overdue. Mr Durkan took the opportunity to make political capital: "Those of us who have never used or excused violence do have the right, indeed a duty, to state things clearly.
"The IRA campaign of violence did not just involve some mistakes, the whole campaign of violence was a mistake that showed blatant disregard for human life and disdain for the democratic and peaceful wishes of the Irish people."
He continued, "Violence perpetrated by the IRA, in spite of condemnation and opposition by the rest of us, cannot now be passed off as some collective failure. The process of conflict resolution does require a full acknowledgement of the grief and loss of all victims. It also has allowed all of us who have been resolutely non violent democrats to tell the truth about the futility and brutality of the violence which created all the victims."
BY ADRIAN MULLAN
THERE has been sharply divergent local reaction to this week's IRA apology to the families of its victims during the course of the Troubles. While some see the unprecedented move as a momentous boost for the peace process, others have dismissed it as empty propaganda.
In what is being interpreted by both governments and many analysts as a development of huge significance, the Provisional IRA apologised to the families of its victims. The carefully worded IRA statement, timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Bloody Friday, initially distinguished between "combatants" and "non-combatants".
However, in the body of the statement the "grief and pain" of the families all of the victims of violence combatants and non-combatants are recognised.
The statement also comes at a time when the peace process was deemed to be entering heavy waters with the Ulster Unionists putting extreme pressure on Tony Blair to impose sanctions on Sinn Fein - possibly even exclusion from the Assembly - in the wake of the Colombian arrests and recent street violence.
However, the importance of the statement was not lost on Mr Blair who, following the publication of the apology, said he believed republicans were further than they'd ever been from returning to violence. Despite that confidence, which was shared by Britain's Secretary of State John Reid, unionist politicians, and unionist victims' groups have variously dismissed the apology as "a stunt, hypocrisy and empty words".
A spokesman for the West Tyrone Voice, a largely Protestant victims' group, told the Ulster Herald. his members were "gutted and appalled" at the hypocrisy of the IRA. He went on to call for the words of the IRA to be followed by deeds, namely the dismantling of the military machine.
However, Omagh District Council Chairman Pat McDonnell enthusiastically welcomed the IRA apology. He called on victims and their families on all sides to lead in the process of forgiveness.
Michael Gallagher whose son Adrian was killed in the Omagh bomb and whose brother, Hugh was murdered by the IRA in 1984 after he had left the UDR, said there was nothing in the apology for his family, in that, those who issued the statement would have regarded Hugh as a combatant, and Adrian, along with 30 others was murdered by the Real IRA.
The very language of the statement had been interpreted as enormously important in that it departs from the traditional denunciations and statements of militants defiance, to accept mistakes, express remorse and reaffirm its commitment to peace process. Whilst David Trimble said he required more from the IRA than words, Deputy First Minister, Mark Durkan welcomed the apology which he said was long overdue. Mr Durkan took the opportunity to make political capital: "Those of us who have never used or excused violence do have the right, indeed a duty, to state things clearly.
"The IRA campaign of violence did not just involve some mistakes, the whole campaign of violence was a mistake that showed blatant disregard for human life and disdain for the democratic and peaceful wishes of the Irish people."
He continued, "Violence perpetrated by the IRA, in spite of condemnation and opposition by the rest of us, cannot now be passed off as some collective failure. The process of conflict resolution does require a full acknowledgement of the grief and loss of all victims. It also has allowed all of us who have been resolutely non violent democrats to tell the truth about the futility and brutality of the violence which created all the victims."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1037
Published Date: 18-Jul-02
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