PROTESTORS VERBALLY ABUSED BY PRISONERS FUNDRAISERS
Relatives plan to seek US support
By JOHN McCUSKER
THE chairman of a support group representing some of those bereaved in the Omagh bombing has vowed to continue challenging fundraising events organised by dissident republicans.
Michael Gallagher whose 21-year-old son Adrian died in the blast was one of 17 people who protested at the Irish Republican Prisoners' Welfare Association event held in Hannahstown, West Belfast on Friday night.
Families of seven of those who died participated in the demonstration which had been organised in support of the prisoners' group which has links to the 32 County Sovereignty Committee.
During the two-hour protest, relatives of some of the victims claimed they were verbally abused after they displayed placards carrying photographs of the victims.
Main speaker at the fund-raiser which took part just three days after the second anniversary of the Omagh atrocity was US activist and former Noraid director, Martin Galvin.
In the course of the evening, convicted London bomber and chairwoman of the prisoners' group, Marion Price asked the protesters to leave the car park of the bar.
Speaking to the Herald this week, Michael Gallagher said relatives now intended lobbying the US Government in a bid to have a 'co-ordinated approach' adopted with a view to curbing funding to dissident groups.
"Our intention was not to bring people out onto the streets," Mr Gallagher explained, "but to highlight the fact that this function went ahead three days after the anniversary, despite calls to have it cancelled.
"We had only just assembled in one of the bar's car parks, when a woman, who I later found out was Marion Price, asked us to leave as we were on private property. When we moved to the lower car park, she again approached us and asked us to move onto the public road.
"During the protest, we handed out leaflets which the majority of people accepted. And although we received a lot of support from those living in the area, one or two of the people entering the premises were quite abusive."
Mr Gallagher said he was disturbed by the fact that most of those filtering into the fund-raiser were young people in their early to mid-teens.
And despite the fact that organisers had boasted of having sold 250 tickets, when protesters left, only about a dozen cars were visible outside the premises, he said.
"Martin Galvin didn't show his face throughout the time we were there and unless large numbers arrived after we left, I don't think it looked like a success to me," Mr Gallagher added.
In a statement issued to the press, members of the relatives' group described as 'shameful' the fact that the evening had been billed as comprising 'Craic agus Ceol' (crack and music).
"There has been little singing in the homes of the relatives of the 29 victims, and the many maimed and injured, since the 32 County Sovereignty Movement / Real IRA exploded a massive car bomb following misleading warnings in Omagh town centre," organisers said.
"Also in their advert, they call for the release of prisoners - hypocrisy in the extreme in claiming every 'human right' for themselves, whilst denying any rights to others.
"We wish it to be known throughout the world, but particularly in America, that Martin Galvin is contributing nothing to the people of Ireland, only misery."
The statement added that relatives believed Martin Galvin should feel ashamed at supporting an organisation which sought support from human rights organisations, whilst at the same time engaging in acts of violence 'such as the abhorrent act of evil that murdered our loved ones.'
"But, we believe that he along with the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, are beyond feeling such shame and with the increasing number of their violent acts, are clearly seeking to put behind them the dreadful evil they committed on the 15th August 1998.
"They portray themselves as victims. We therefore turn to the Irish, British and American governments in our call for setting up a joint approach to use all legitimate, democratic means at their disposal, within a human rights context, to campaign against the further growth of this hate and murder movement."
Following the protest, the 32 County Sovereignty Committee issued a statement in which they said they sympathised with the suffering of Michael Gallagher who had been bereaved as result of the conflict in Ireland.
"However, the people of this country have endured much tragedy and suffering and we must all work towards the solution bringing an end to it all," it added.
By JOHN McCUSKER
THE chairman of a support group representing some of those bereaved in the Omagh bombing has vowed to continue challenging fundraising events organised by dissident republicans.
Michael Gallagher whose 21-year-old son Adrian died in the blast was one of 17 people who protested at the Irish Republican Prisoners' Welfare Association event held in Hannahstown, West Belfast on Friday night.
Families of seven of those who died participated in the demonstration which had been organised in support of the prisoners' group which has links to the 32 County Sovereignty Committee.
During the two-hour protest, relatives of some of the victims claimed they were verbally abused after they displayed placards carrying photographs of the victims.
Main speaker at the fund-raiser which took part just three days after the second anniversary of the Omagh atrocity was US activist and former Noraid director, Martin Galvin.
In the course of the evening, convicted London bomber and chairwoman of the prisoners' group, Marion Price asked the protesters to leave the car park of the bar.
Speaking to the Herald this week, Michael Gallagher said relatives now intended lobbying the US Government in a bid to have a 'co-ordinated approach' adopted with a view to curbing funding to dissident groups.
"Our intention was not to bring people out onto the streets," Mr Gallagher explained, "but to highlight the fact that this function went ahead three days after the anniversary, despite calls to have it cancelled.
"We had only just assembled in one of the bar's car parks, when a woman, who I later found out was Marion Price, asked us to leave as we were on private property. When we moved to the lower car park, she again approached us and asked us to move onto the public road.
"During the protest, we handed out leaflets which the majority of people accepted. And although we received a lot of support from those living in the area, one or two of the people entering the premises were quite abusive."
Mr Gallagher said he was disturbed by the fact that most of those filtering into the fund-raiser were young people in their early to mid-teens.
And despite the fact that organisers had boasted of having sold 250 tickets, when protesters left, only about a dozen cars were visible outside the premises, he said.
"Martin Galvin didn't show his face throughout the time we were there and unless large numbers arrived after we left, I don't think it looked like a success to me," Mr Gallagher added.
In a statement issued to the press, members of the relatives' group described as 'shameful' the fact that the evening had been billed as comprising 'Craic agus Ceol' (crack and music).
"There has been little singing in the homes of the relatives of the 29 victims, and the many maimed and injured, since the 32 County Sovereignty Movement / Real IRA exploded a massive car bomb following misleading warnings in Omagh town centre," organisers said.
"Also in their advert, they call for the release of prisoners - hypocrisy in the extreme in claiming every 'human right' for themselves, whilst denying any rights to others.
"We wish it to be known throughout the world, but particularly in America, that Martin Galvin is contributing nothing to the people of Ireland, only misery."
The statement added that relatives believed Martin Galvin should feel ashamed at supporting an organisation which sought support from human rights organisations, whilst at the same time engaging in acts of violence 'such as the abhorrent act of evil that murdered our loved ones.'
"But, we believe that he along with the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, are beyond feeling such shame and with the increasing number of their violent acts, are clearly seeking to put behind them the dreadful evil they committed on the 15th August 1998.
"They portray themselves as victims. We therefore turn to the Irish, British and American governments in our call for setting up a joint approach to use all legitimate, democratic means at their disposal, within a human rights context, to campaign against the further growth of this hate and murder movement."
Following the protest, the 32 County Sovereignty Committee issued a statement in which they said they sympathised with the suffering of Michael Gallagher who had been bereaved as result of the conflict in Ireland.
"However, the people of this country have endured much tragedy and suffering and we must all work towards the solution bringing an end to it all," it added.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1427
Published Date: 24-Aug-00
Related Images
