OMAGH STILL GRIEVES FOR JUSTICE
Omagh still grieves for justice
On this date, August 15, at 3.10 p.m. four years ago a tragedy of a huge scale unfolded in Omagh. It left 31 people dead and hundreds more maimed and scarred. It was the work of the Real IRA and it was a deed of evil against innocent people.
This dreadful and despicable atrocity happened when our guard was down, when we were at peace. Four years have passed for those of us who were only shocked and revolted: For those who lost their loved ones it must seem that time has stood still. But while the grief of the victims has not diminished, time has moved on and, in some senses, that moving on has only added insult to injury.
The families of Omagh have not had justice delivered to them from the British State nor the Irish state; neither from the PSNI nor the Gardai. They certainly have not had it from the perpetrators and their political apologists.
Indeed, such has been the frustration felt by the victims' families that some are pursuing those believed to have been involved through the civil courts, while another has sought to sue the British Secretary of State and Chief Constable for failing to protect their loved ones. That highlights the complexity of the situation in which the bereaved families find themselves as they pursue simple justice.
The Real IRA planned and planted the bomb, and despite protestations, people who plant bombs do not do so to preserve life they wiped out 31
precious lives in Omagh. That act of barbarity should haunt to the grave each and every contributor to the atrocity. Shame on them, and shame also on members of the Special Branch who, because of their alternative political agenda, did not pass the warning they received to the people of Omagh.
Those who murdered and those who knew but did not act to stop them must be pursued. The fact that the families are pursuing both -albeit in separate and independent actions - shows that the Omagh relatives have not given up on their quest for justice. Both cases are noble in aspiration, and the rest of the people of Omagh, those who were not bereaved or injured, should give their support.
But there are people out there who are neither pursued by the police nor the courts, so far unknown individuals, who may in some significant way have aided those who did this deed. They too must bear responsibility.
Though the authorities have failed, maybe because of the lack of political will, the families fight on. Perhaps though their endeavours, in their passionate remembering of their loved ones, they will find the justice so far denied them.
There is little point in trying to stir the consciences of men and women who have walked away from the murder of children and old people, teenagers and babies, and people in the prime of life who never harmed anyone.
But if there is a shred of honour in the renegades who carried out this atrocity, they would lay down their arms now. If they do not have the mettle to surrender themselves to justice, at least would never again countenance violence and recognise the hurt, pain and huge loss of human potential it has meant for this community.
That has not happened. Indeed, those who fly the same tarnished banner of the Omagh bombers continue to create bloody mayhem and suffering. In recent days, they wreaked it on the family of a Derry working man. The conclusion must be that there is no pity or humanity in their hearts - they have descended below the least of men and deserve our universal contempt.
On this date, August 15, at 3.10 p.m. four years ago a tragedy of a huge scale unfolded in Omagh. It left 31 people dead and hundreds more maimed and scarred. It was the work of the Real IRA and it was a deed of evil against innocent people.
This dreadful and despicable atrocity happened when our guard was down, when we were at peace. Four years have passed for those of us who were only shocked and revolted: For those who lost their loved ones it must seem that time has stood still. But while the grief of the victims has not diminished, time has moved on and, in some senses, that moving on has only added insult to injury.
The families of Omagh have not had justice delivered to them from the British State nor the Irish state; neither from the PSNI nor the Gardai. They certainly have not had it from the perpetrators and their political apologists.
Indeed, such has been the frustration felt by the victims' families that some are pursuing those believed to have been involved through the civil courts, while another has sought to sue the British Secretary of State and Chief Constable for failing to protect their loved ones. That highlights the complexity of the situation in which the bereaved families find themselves as they pursue simple justice.
The Real IRA planned and planted the bomb, and despite protestations, people who plant bombs do not do so to preserve life they wiped out 31
precious lives in Omagh. That act of barbarity should haunt to the grave each and every contributor to the atrocity. Shame on them, and shame also on members of the Special Branch who, because of their alternative political agenda, did not pass the warning they received to the people of Omagh.
Those who murdered and those who knew but did not act to stop them must be pursued. The fact that the families are pursuing both -albeit in separate and independent actions - shows that the Omagh relatives have not given up on their quest for justice. Both cases are noble in aspiration, and the rest of the people of Omagh, those who were not bereaved or injured, should give their support.
But there are people out there who are neither pursued by the police nor the courts, so far unknown individuals, who may in some significant way have aided those who did this deed. They too must bear responsibility.
Though the authorities have failed, maybe because of the lack of political will, the families fight on. Perhaps though their endeavours, in their passionate remembering of their loved ones, they will find the justice so far denied them.
There is little point in trying to stir the consciences of men and women who have walked away from the murder of children and old people, teenagers and babies, and people in the prime of life who never harmed anyone.
But if there is a shred of honour in the renegades who carried out this atrocity, they would lay down their arms now. If they do not have the mettle to surrender themselves to justice, at least would never again countenance violence and recognise the hurt, pain and huge loss of human potential it has meant for this community.
That has not happened. Indeed, those who fly the same tarnished banner of the Omagh bombers continue to create bloody mayhem and suffering. In recent days, they wreaked it on the family of a Derry working man. The conclusion must be that there is no pity or humanity in their hearts - they have descended below the least of men and deserve our universal contempt.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1058
Published Date: 15-Aug-02
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