JUSTICE ELUDES FAMILIES BUT THEY STILL SEEK THE TRUTH
Justice eludes families, but they still seek the truth
BY MARK McKELVEY
m.mckelvey@ulsterherald.com
They never envisaged that on the tenth anniversary of the bomb that killed their loved ones, members of the Omagh Support and Self-Help Group would still be campaigning for justice. Now they say their efforts will not wane until there is a full, cross-border public inquiry to reveal the truth.
Following Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan 2001 report, group chairman Michael Gallagher says the group was thrust into a regrettable public row about the police investigation. Since then, the group seems to have been embroiled in controversy after controversy in relation to events surrounding the Omagh bomb right up to the Sean Hoey trial at the end of last year when the only person accused of murder was found not guilty on all charges.
"There has been many, many controversies in between and it is not what you expect bereaved families to have to deal with, but unfortunately we did," says Michael.
Despite the setbacks, the group has had many accomplishments. In 2001, they had the Real IRA put on the US 'foreign terrorist list' which means they can't enter the United States or fundraise in the United States, nor can anyone raise funds for them. They also had the Real IRA websites taken down in 2001 after pointing out that they were selling merchandise to subsidise terrorism.
Michael says, "We have been very proactive and achieved a lot and organised many events that are not in the public domain... and running therapy courses for our members.
"We have continued to campaign and we are proud of the many achievements we have had over the past decade. We are continuing to pursue whatever means are available to us within the law against those responsible for the bombing in Omagh.
"After the failings of the criminal justice system, we ourselves took out a civil law suit which is a landmark case as it is the first time anywhere in the world that victims of terrorism will have taken the alleged perpetrators to court.
"Our focus has always been on the Real IRA - the people that carried out the bombing in Omagh. We feel that, while these other failings are important, the blame for what happened on August 15 should never be removed from the authors of that event."
During the past decade, the group has left no stone unturned, but appeals for a public inquiry have been repeatedly denied.
"Sadly justice has eluded Omagh and we feel the only way forward is to get the truth and the way to achieve that is through a cross-border public inquiry with an international dimension," says Michael.
"We feel that would be the single thing that would bring the public side of Omagh to an end and we have appealed for both governments to help us. I would ask those who oppose a public inquiry - in particular both governments - what have you got to fear from the truth?
"Let your own people know the truth about what happened. Let's not use all of the arguments that we are aware of not to have a public inquiry that it is a waste of money; takes too long; and that you may not get the truth at the end of it. Surely we have the right at this point to know all that we can know about the circumstances regarding what happened in Omagh. Maybe, only then, can we move on with our lives.
"Only after a public inquiry would the campaigning come to an end and, as a bereaved parent, I could say that I have done everything possible to deal with what happened. I can walk confidently and proudly then, knowing that I and the other families around me who have formed and been part of the group have done everything they could."
BY MARK McKELVEY
m.mckelvey@ulsterherald.com
They never envisaged that on the tenth anniversary of the bomb that killed their loved ones, members of the Omagh Support and Self-Help Group would still be campaigning for justice. Now they say their efforts will not wane until there is a full, cross-border public inquiry to reveal the truth.
Following Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan 2001 report, group chairman Michael Gallagher says the group was thrust into a regrettable public row about the police investigation. Since then, the group seems to have been embroiled in controversy after controversy in relation to events surrounding the Omagh bomb right up to the Sean Hoey trial at the end of last year when the only person accused of murder was found not guilty on all charges.
"There has been many, many controversies in between and it is not what you expect bereaved families to have to deal with, but unfortunately we did," says Michael.
Despite the setbacks, the group has had many accomplishments. In 2001, they had the Real IRA put on the US 'foreign terrorist list' which means they can't enter the United States or fundraise in the United States, nor can anyone raise funds for them. They also had the Real IRA websites taken down in 2001 after pointing out that they were selling merchandise to subsidise terrorism.
Michael says, "We have been very proactive and achieved a lot and organised many events that are not in the public domain... and running therapy courses for our members.
"We have continued to campaign and we are proud of the many achievements we have had over the past decade. We are continuing to pursue whatever means are available to us within the law against those responsible for the bombing in Omagh.
"After the failings of the criminal justice system, we ourselves took out a civil law suit which is a landmark case as it is the first time anywhere in the world that victims of terrorism will have taken the alleged perpetrators to court.
"Our focus has always been on the Real IRA - the people that carried out the bombing in Omagh. We feel that, while these other failings are important, the blame for what happened on August 15 should never be removed from the authors of that event."
During the past decade, the group has left no stone unturned, but appeals for a public inquiry have been repeatedly denied.
"Sadly justice has eluded Omagh and we feel the only way forward is to get the truth and the way to achieve that is through a cross-border public inquiry with an international dimension," says Michael.
"We feel that would be the single thing that would bring the public side of Omagh to an end and we have appealed for both governments to help us. I would ask those who oppose a public inquiry - in particular both governments - what have you got to fear from the truth?
"Let your own people know the truth about what happened. Let's not use all of the arguments that we are aware of not to have a public inquiry that it is a waste of money; takes too long; and that you may not get the truth at the end of it. Surely we have the right at this point to know all that we can know about the circumstances regarding what happened in Omagh. Maybe, only then, can we move on with our lives.
"Only after a public inquiry would the campaigning come to an end and, as a bereaved parent, I could say that I have done everything possible to deal with what happened. I can walk confidently and proudly then, knowing that I and the other families around me who have formed and been part of the group have done everything they could."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH10An/53
Published Date: 14-Aug-08
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