REAL IRA APOLOGY FOR OMAGH BOMB CAUSES OUTRAGE
Real IRA 'apology' for Omagh bomb causes outrage
By ROSETTA DONNELLY
Husband of victim hits out at 'obscene death threats'
THE HUSBAND of an Omagh bomb victim has angrily condemned the Real IRA's 'apparent apology' which was published in a national newspaper last week.
Laurence Rush said that alongside the apology was a veiled threat of returning to violence with a rallying call to dissidents.
He said such propaganda for the Real IRA 'after the horror, mayhem and sorrow' inflicted in Omagh, enraged him.
In the statement the Real IRA called on disaffected Provisionals to make their dissatisfaction to the Good Friday Agreement apparent by joining in their opposition of the deal.
The group, who killed 29 people in a car bomb attack in Omagh last August, claimed the attack could have been avoided if there was no British presence in Ireland. It said "But for the British involvement in Ireland, these tragedies could have been easily avoided."
But reacting angrily to the statement, Mr Rush said "What they did was a non-sectarian outrage man, woman and child, of various faiths and nationalities were desecrated. How dare they sanctify obscene death threats with pseudo apologies and threats. How dare they speak for the people of Ireland. They have no mandate. They do not talk for myself or the people of Omagh".
"In the statement, the Real IRA appeared to blame the security forces ... I would ask them, who built this weapon of death and destruction? Who transported this ant-personnel time bomb eighty miles to Omagh? Who set the timer? Who gave the false warnings resulting in this orgy of death?.... your violence and lies will not rest with us," added Mr Rush.
Referring to the Omagh bomb atrocity, the Real IRA statement said: "It would be remiss of Oglaigh na hEireann to abdicate our responsibility for the many innocent lives that have been lost and injuries occurred as a consequence of the ongoing struggle for freedom in the past century."
"We call on all volunteers loyal to the Irish Republic to unite and uphold the Republic and establish a permanent, national parliament, representative of all the people. Your allegiance is to the Republic, not to a unique clique or corrupt treacherous administration."
Security forces on both sides of the border have, for some time, been wary of the fact that the group may be regrouping and readying itself for a return to terrorist activity.
The group added that it was incumbent on all volunteers to ensure the safety of "non-combatants" at all times.
Garda Chief Commissioner Byrne, speaking on Tuesday about the recent finds in the Republic, including a letter bomb to a Sinn Fein councillor, said people need to be vigilant all of the time to prevent another 'Omagh'.
He said the gardai had in the past, prevented many bombs heading North and to England, but on the one occasion when a bomb did get through, it resulted in the atrocity in Omagh.
He said "We have to be on guard all the time .... the bombers only have to be lucky once".
By ROSETTA DONNELLY
Husband of victim hits out at 'obscene death threats'
THE HUSBAND of an Omagh bomb victim has angrily condemned the Real IRA's 'apparent apology' which was published in a national newspaper last week.
Laurence Rush said that alongside the apology was a veiled threat of returning to violence with a rallying call to dissidents.
He said such propaganda for the Real IRA 'after the horror, mayhem and sorrow' inflicted in Omagh, enraged him.
In the statement the Real IRA called on disaffected Provisionals to make their dissatisfaction to the Good Friday Agreement apparent by joining in their opposition of the deal.
The group, who killed 29 people in a car bomb attack in Omagh last August, claimed the attack could have been avoided if there was no British presence in Ireland. It said "But for the British involvement in Ireland, these tragedies could have been easily avoided."
But reacting angrily to the statement, Mr Rush said "What they did was a non-sectarian outrage man, woman and child, of various faiths and nationalities were desecrated. How dare they sanctify obscene death threats with pseudo apologies and threats. How dare they speak for the people of Ireland. They have no mandate. They do not talk for myself or the people of Omagh".
"In the statement, the Real IRA appeared to blame the security forces ... I would ask them, who built this weapon of death and destruction? Who transported this ant-personnel time bomb eighty miles to Omagh? Who set the timer? Who gave the false warnings resulting in this orgy of death?.... your violence and lies will not rest with us," added Mr Rush.
Referring to the Omagh bomb atrocity, the Real IRA statement said: "It would be remiss of Oglaigh na hEireann to abdicate our responsibility for the many innocent lives that have been lost and injuries occurred as a consequence of the ongoing struggle for freedom in the past century."
"We call on all volunteers loyal to the Irish Republic to unite and uphold the Republic and establish a permanent, national parliament, representative of all the people. Your allegiance is to the Republic, not to a unique clique or corrupt treacherous administration."
Security forces on both sides of the border have, for some time, been wary of the fact that the group may be regrouping and readying itself for a return to terrorist activity.
The group added that it was incumbent on all volunteers to ensure the safety of "non-combatants" at all times.
Garda Chief Commissioner Byrne, speaking on Tuesday about the recent finds in the Republic, including a letter bomb to a Sinn Fein councillor, said people need to be vigilant all of the time to prevent another 'Omagh'.
He said the gardai had in the past, prevented many bombs heading North and to England, but on the one occasion when a bomb did get through, it resulted in the atrocity in Omagh.
He said "We have to be on guard all the time .... the bombers only have to be lucky once".
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1324
Published Date: 27-Jan-00
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