COUNCILLORS HIT OUT AT BOMB HOAXER
Councillors hit out at bomb hoaxer
By HUGH McCUSKER
The recent spate of bomb hoaxes, which have blighted Omagh town centre have been unequivocally condemned by Omagh District Council.
At Tuesday's meeting of the Council, Councillors united to condemn the threats and pointed to the fact that the local economy is suffering badly as a result.
Alliance councillor Anne Gormley also hit out at the lack of coverage of the disruptions by national media, saying that the outside world seemed to think that Omagh was recovering without undue stress after the August 1998 bomb.
She said that she had telephoned the BBC to express her anger that they had not publicised the bomb scares and claimed that this lack of publicity led people to think that Omagh was without threat.
"I was told by the BBC that they had not publicised the events because they did not want to give the perpetrators glory or publicise their activities,"she added.
She added that the council owed it to the people of Omagh to give the idea of CCTV 100 per cent backing because the public wanted it.
Barry McElduff of Sinn Fein said: "On behalf of Sinn Fein I would say that these events are very worrying and we want to call on those engaged in this to stop. I appreciate that the economic lifeblood is being drained out of this community and these bomb scares are one of the main reasons for this. We call on those involved to stop."
Johnny McLaughlin raised the point that people were going to other towns to shop rather than come into Omagh town centre and that this too was draining at Omagh's economic stability. This point was endorsed by the SDLP's Vincent Campbell.
Council Chairman, Allan Rainey said that the council is "sending out a message that we condemn the bomb hoax epidemic in this town."
In a separate statement, the SDLP's Joe Byrne has called upon the Northern Ireland office and the other relevant public authorities to explain to the people of Omagh who they believe are orchestrating the bomb hoaxes.
"The hoaxes are terrifying shoppers, disrupting office workers, and are severely damaging business for the towns traders as many people have been put off from visiting the town centre.
"In light of the Omagh bomb tragedy the people of Omagh are angry and bewildered that they are being targeted in such a fashion by malicious and insensitive individuals and are demanding answers from the local authorities."
He said that the public was demanding to know what efforts were being made to determine whether the hoaxes are genuine threats or are mere pranks. He added that the visit of Peter Mandelson, should provide the people of Omagh to assess the current political assessment of the hoaxes from London.
Meanwhile a local priest has issued a public appeal to the person who is responsible for the hoax bomb scares in the town, to stop.
In an unprecedented move Fr Neil Farren CC, Drumragh, dramatically spoke out during his Homily at weekend Masses in the town.
His appeal followed the latest spate of hoax bomb calls the most serious on Saturday week when the town was hosting an Easter Carnival.
He was speaking during the second Sunday of Easter about the Resurrection of Jesus giving life meaning and purpose when he briefly turned to the hoax caller.
He said "The Resurrection of Jesus lets us know we count. We are loved, treasured, valued by God. Even the Omagh hoax bomb caller who continues to hide in his dark ways hurting especially those still emotionally affected by the Omagh bomb, as well as affecting the working man and woman.
Continuing he said "This hoax caller serves to do nothing but deter trader and investment coming to Omagh. This surely is not good for our image. It is not good in the long term for our youth, when it comes to their seeking employment locally."
And he appealed to the faceless person to stop on the young people's behalf.
"All these hoax calls, only encourages an old Ireland with mass emigration in the local scene. Our youth deserve better prospects locally.
"But even he or she who instils this fear and darkness is loved by God," said the priest.
He added: "The Resurrection of Jesus lets us know that, in the end, goodness is rewarded by Christ our Saviour and sin is punished by Christ our Judge. That from the darkness and bondage of sin we too by the grace of God can repent and experience his reconciliation and peace May all who walk in darkness open their eyes, their hearts, their ears to the Risen Saviour at this Easter tide."
By HUGH McCUSKER
The recent spate of bomb hoaxes, which have blighted Omagh town centre have been unequivocally condemned by Omagh District Council.
At Tuesday's meeting of the Council, Councillors united to condemn the threats and pointed to the fact that the local economy is suffering badly as a result.
Alliance councillor Anne Gormley also hit out at the lack of coverage of the disruptions by national media, saying that the outside world seemed to think that Omagh was recovering without undue stress after the August 1998 bomb.
She said that she had telephoned the BBC to express her anger that they had not publicised the bomb scares and claimed that this lack of publicity led people to think that Omagh was without threat.
"I was told by the BBC that they had not publicised the events because they did not want to give the perpetrators glory or publicise their activities,"she added.
She added that the council owed it to the people of Omagh to give the idea of CCTV 100 per cent backing because the public wanted it.
Barry McElduff of Sinn Fein said: "On behalf of Sinn Fein I would say that these events are very worrying and we want to call on those engaged in this to stop. I appreciate that the economic lifeblood is being drained out of this community and these bomb scares are one of the main reasons for this. We call on those involved to stop."
Johnny McLaughlin raised the point that people were going to other towns to shop rather than come into Omagh town centre and that this too was draining at Omagh's economic stability. This point was endorsed by the SDLP's Vincent Campbell.
Council Chairman, Allan Rainey said that the council is "sending out a message that we condemn the bomb hoax epidemic in this town."
In a separate statement, the SDLP's Joe Byrne has called upon the Northern Ireland office and the other relevant public authorities to explain to the people of Omagh who they believe are orchestrating the bomb hoaxes.
"The hoaxes are terrifying shoppers, disrupting office workers, and are severely damaging business for the towns traders as many people have been put off from visiting the town centre.
"In light of the Omagh bomb tragedy the people of Omagh are angry and bewildered that they are being targeted in such a fashion by malicious and insensitive individuals and are demanding answers from the local authorities."
He said that the public was demanding to know what efforts were being made to determine whether the hoaxes are genuine threats or are mere pranks. He added that the visit of Peter Mandelson, should provide the people of Omagh to assess the current political assessment of the hoaxes from London.
Meanwhile a local priest has issued a public appeal to the person who is responsible for the hoax bomb scares in the town, to stop.
In an unprecedented move Fr Neil Farren CC, Drumragh, dramatically spoke out during his Homily at weekend Masses in the town.
His appeal followed the latest spate of hoax bomb calls the most serious on Saturday week when the town was hosting an Easter Carnival.
He was speaking during the second Sunday of Easter about the Resurrection of Jesus giving life meaning and purpose when he briefly turned to the hoax caller.
He said "The Resurrection of Jesus lets us know we count. We are loved, treasured, valued by God. Even the Omagh hoax bomb caller who continues to hide in his dark ways hurting especially those still emotionally affected by the Omagh bomb, as well as affecting the working man and woman.
Continuing he said "This hoax caller serves to do nothing but deter trader and investment coming to Omagh. This surely is not good for our image. It is not good in the long term for our youth, when it comes to their seeking employment locally."
And he appealed to the faceless person to stop on the young people's behalf.
"All these hoax calls, only encourages an old Ireland with mass emigration in the local scene. Our youth deserve better prospects locally.
"But even he or she who instils this fear and darkness is loved by God," said the priest.
He added: "The Resurrection of Jesus lets us know that, in the end, goodness is rewarded by Christ our Saviour and sin is punished by Christ our Judge. That from the darkness and bondage of sin we too by the grace of God can repent and experience his reconciliation and peace May all who walk in darkness open their eyes, their hearts, their ears to the Risen Saviour at this Easter tide."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1346
Published Date: 04-May-00
Related Images
