ASSEMBLY DISCUSSION ON OMAGH BOMB
Assembly discussion on Omagh bomb
BY: MICHELE CANNING
Reveal identity of bombers - Hussey
A WEST TYRONE assemblyman has accused politicians within the. Northern Assembly of knowing the identity of the Omagh bombers.
The accusation was levelled on Tuesday as the 108 strong Assembly met for the second day in its existence to discuss the Omagh bombing, which killed 29 people and unborn baby twins.
It came from Ulster Unionist forum member and Strabane Councillor Derek Hussey who claimed "there are those in this Chamber who know who these people are and they should be sharing that knowledge with the authorities, North or South, to assist in the apprehension of those responsible."
A three hour special debate on the Omagh bombing was conducted in Parliament buildings where there was unanimous condemnation of the Real IRA bombing.
There were also calls from the Unionists to the Republican members for the process of decommissioning to get underway now to prevent another Omagh.
All five assemblymen spoke of the atrocity and of its impact, both now and in the future, on a town noted for its harmonious cross-community relations.
Derek Hussey asked "If violence is now to be a thing of the past, what need is there to maintain these arsenals.
"The leader of the Real IRA, as a former Provo quartermaster, surely knows where supplies are held and therefore had access to such materials.
"These materials were used in the Omagh bomb and indeed in others over this past few months."
Mr Hussey said the potential for another Omagh must be removed.
"This is the overwhelming public expectation and further for me it is the political imperative if we are to advance the return of right and proper powers" to the North.
Sinn Fein Vice-President, Pat Doherty, told of his memories of the day Omagh was devastated.
"My clear and undying memory is of lists- lists of funerals, lists of those in hospital and the length and indignity of having to have lists, and of so many people killed and so so many in hospital."
He said his other clear memory was that of Sean Clarke, Sinn Fein Chairman, and Alan Rainey, Ulster Unionist Vice-chairman who worked together in the aftermath of the bomb.
"They have shown us how we night move forward. There is an onus, a deep and heavy responsibility on us to do so.
"We must match the courage of the people of Omagh, move forward, find a solution and make the Omagh atrocity the last."
The West Tyrone assemblyman said politicians had a responsibility to build a memorial of lasting peace in commemoration of all those who died, not only in Omagh, but throughout the troubles.
"The foundation stones of that memorial should be not only the resolution of the conflict but the resolution of the issues that lead to the conflict in the first place."
The SDLP's Joe Byrne said "I think we all know that dissident Republicans at this time wanted a so called spectacular in order to wreck the current peace process and prevent the new political structures from functioning.
"Provocatively the timing was right, and the town of Omagh was ideal in their view to derail the entire process."
The assemblyman said he believed the Omagh bomb was a "defining moment" in political development.
He said nothing could justify the killing of our good people in such an inhuman and callous way.
"The Omagh bomb hopefully has at long last cleared away a lot of the 'fog of ambivalence' to political violence in Ireland as we approach the end of this millennium."
The assemblyman also said he earnestly hoped that the government recognises what Omagh represents and will not marginalise the town any more.
"We have always worked at developing a normalised community in Omagh. Sadly however in recent years we have only witnessed minimal government help and support, It is sorely felt that government administration at central level has not dealt Omagh a fair hand.
He added "hopefully government will be sensitive and co-operative in trying to get our town back to some kind of normality as quickly as possible."
The DUP's Oliver Gibson, who lost a relative in the bomb, said people are mindful in their grief of all those who have been left behind, the injured, the emergency services, the public, everyone who in some way lent support in the aftermath of the atrocity.
"And I think particularly today as I speak of someone else whose world has fallen apart. Esther Gibson is dead and buried but her boyfriend is left behind. You see the reality is something that is yet to be dealt with.
Mr Gibson said "Omagh was different, not just because of its scale, the horrific havoc, or the brilliant work of the emergency services, but because it internationalised terror".
"Let us not forget, and I certainly would not want to forget in the middle of this atrocity that we do not think of those who are sitting, listening to this debate because as far as I am concerned this is not a debate.
"This is simply a statement of the facts of terrorist horror committed, not just in the constituency that I represent, but in every constituency in Northern Ireland. Terror was exposed on the international scene for what it really is."
Holding up the Good Friday Agreement document Mr Gibson said "Can you imagine the relevance of that document to a family in the midst of deep agony and grief. Do you think it is relevant when a family is mourning.
Mr Gibson said the greatest tribute to Omagh would be the South of Ireland to become "a mature political state."
"That they would not hide the terrorists that perpetrated those desperate deeds, that they would not give them their headquarters, that they would not give them training grounds nor allow the arms dumps to exist.
"The greatest tribute to Omagh is that two governments would be responsible for democracy to work freely."
Sinn Fein's Barry McElduff addressing the session bi-lingually said he acknowledged the hurt that Unionists have felt, and asked for similar recognition and acknowledgement for the hurt of nationalists.
"I regret, I say this mildly and not stridently, that some members cannot resist political point scoring even when we are united by the horror at what happened in Omagh."
Mr McElduff said it is difficult to dwell on the political implications but said if there is to be a political response. Let it be the speedy implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
"Many of those bereaved by the carnage in Omagh have pointed the way forward for us all. They have very earnestly expressed that they want to see the further development of the peace process.
"There is a long road ahead for the people of Omagh. We are still coming to terms with what has happened and we need to tread gently. Hearts will continue to bleed in Omagh for a long time to come."
But said the assemblyman, there is hope represented in the Chairman and Vice Chairman of Omagh Council, the birth of baby Chloe Emery.
"For me, the hope and spirit of Omagh shone through when Niall McSorley took his place for Omagh St Enda's in the Tyrone County final on Sunday afternoon."
He concluded "Let us all take our responsibilities seriously with a visibly speedy and a real enactment of the Good Friday Agreement. That is the least we can do."
BY: MICHELE CANNING
Reveal identity of bombers - Hussey
A WEST TYRONE assemblyman has accused politicians within the. Northern Assembly of knowing the identity of the Omagh bombers.
The accusation was levelled on Tuesday as the 108 strong Assembly met for the second day in its existence to discuss the Omagh bombing, which killed 29 people and unborn baby twins.
It came from Ulster Unionist forum member and Strabane Councillor Derek Hussey who claimed "there are those in this Chamber who know who these people are and they should be sharing that knowledge with the authorities, North or South, to assist in the apprehension of those responsible."
A three hour special debate on the Omagh bombing was conducted in Parliament buildings where there was unanimous condemnation of the Real IRA bombing.
There were also calls from the Unionists to the Republican members for the process of decommissioning to get underway now to prevent another Omagh.
All five assemblymen spoke of the atrocity and of its impact, both now and in the future, on a town noted for its harmonious cross-community relations.
Derek Hussey asked "If violence is now to be a thing of the past, what need is there to maintain these arsenals.
"The leader of the Real IRA, as a former Provo quartermaster, surely knows where supplies are held and therefore had access to such materials.
"These materials were used in the Omagh bomb and indeed in others over this past few months."
Mr Hussey said the potential for another Omagh must be removed.
"This is the overwhelming public expectation and further for me it is the political imperative if we are to advance the return of right and proper powers" to the North.
Sinn Fein Vice-President, Pat Doherty, told of his memories of the day Omagh was devastated.
"My clear and undying memory is of lists- lists of funerals, lists of those in hospital and the length and indignity of having to have lists, and of so many people killed and so so many in hospital."
He said his other clear memory was that of Sean Clarke, Sinn Fein Chairman, and Alan Rainey, Ulster Unionist Vice-chairman who worked together in the aftermath of the bomb.
"They have shown us how we night move forward. There is an onus, a deep and heavy responsibility on us to do so.
"We must match the courage of the people of Omagh, move forward, find a solution and make the Omagh atrocity the last."
The West Tyrone assemblyman said politicians had a responsibility to build a memorial of lasting peace in commemoration of all those who died, not only in Omagh, but throughout the troubles.
"The foundation stones of that memorial should be not only the resolution of the conflict but the resolution of the issues that lead to the conflict in the first place."
The SDLP's Joe Byrne said "I think we all know that dissident Republicans at this time wanted a so called spectacular in order to wreck the current peace process and prevent the new political structures from functioning.
"Provocatively the timing was right, and the town of Omagh was ideal in their view to derail the entire process."
The assemblyman said he believed the Omagh bomb was a "defining moment" in political development.
He said nothing could justify the killing of our good people in such an inhuman and callous way.
"The Omagh bomb hopefully has at long last cleared away a lot of the 'fog of ambivalence' to political violence in Ireland as we approach the end of this millennium."
The assemblyman also said he earnestly hoped that the government recognises what Omagh represents and will not marginalise the town any more.
"We have always worked at developing a normalised community in Omagh. Sadly however in recent years we have only witnessed minimal government help and support, It is sorely felt that government administration at central level has not dealt Omagh a fair hand.
He added "hopefully government will be sensitive and co-operative in trying to get our town back to some kind of normality as quickly as possible."
The DUP's Oliver Gibson, who lost a relative in the bomb, said people are mindful in their grief of all those who have been left behind, the injured, the emergency services, the public, everyone who in some way lent support in the aftermath of the atrocity.
"And I think particularly today as I speak of someone else whose world has fallen apart. Esther Gibson is dead and buried but her boyfriend is left behind. You see the reality is something that is yet to be dealt with.
Mr Gibson said "Omagh was different, not just because of its scale, the horrific havoc, or the brilliant work of the emergency services, but because it internationalised terror".
"Let us not forget, and I certainly would not want to forget in the middle of this atrocity that we do not think of those who are sitting, listening to this debate because as far as I am concerned this is not a debate.
"This is simply a statement of the facts of terrorist horror committed, not just in the constituency that I represent, but in every constituency in Northern Ireland. Terror was exposed on the international scene for what it really is."
Holding up the Good Friday Agreement document Mr Gibson said "Can you imagine the relevance of that document to a family in the midst of deep agony and grief. Do you think it is relevant when a family is mourning.
Mr Gibson said the greatest tribute to Omagh would be the South of Ireland to become "a mature political state."
"That they would not hide the terrorists that perpetrated those desperate deeds, that they would not give them their headquarters, that they would not give them training grounds nor allow the arms dumps to exist.
"The greatest tribute to Omagh is that two governments would be responsible for democracy to work freely."
Sinn Fein's Barry McElduff addressing the session bi-lingually said he acknowledged the hurt that Unionists have felt, and asked for similar recognition and acknowledgement for the hurt of nationalists.
"I regret, I say this mildly and not stridently, that some members cannot resist political point scoring even when we are united by the horror at what happened in Omagh."
Mr McElduff said it is difficult to dwell on the political implications but said if there is to be a political response. Let it be the speedy implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
"Many of those bereaved by the carnage in Omagh have pointed the way forward for us all. They have very earnestly expressed that they want to see the further development of the peace process.
"There is a long road ahead for the people of Omagh. We are still coming to terms with what has happened and we need to tread gently. Hearts will continue to bleed in Omagh for a long time to come."
But said the assemblyman, there is hope represented in the Chairman and Vice Chairman of Omagh Council, the birth of baby Chloe Emery.
"For me, the hope and spirit of Omagh shone through when Niall McSorley took his place for Omagh St Enda's in the Tyrone County final on Sunday afternoon."
He concluded "Let us all take our responsibilities seriously with a visibly speedy and a real enactment of the Good Friday Agreement. That is the least we can do."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1132
Published Date: 17-Sep-98
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