POLICE CONTINUE TO HUNT FOR HOAX CALLER
Police continue to hunt for hoax caller
By JACQUELINE COURTNEY
TERROR returned to the streets of Omagh this week - cruelly on the day that the Bomb Inquests was drawing to a conclusion in the nearby Leisure complex.
The latest scare on Tuesday, has been widely condemned in business, commercial and political circles.
It resulted in the town centre being evacuated again for almost the 70th time since the August atrocity of 1998.
Those responsible have been accused of terrorising a community - still trying to recover from the bomb and after painfully reliving the horrors of that murderous day at the Inquests.
Condemning Tuesday afternoon's scare, which paralysed the town for several hours before the area was declared safe, Chief Inspector John Brennan said the ongoing unlawful activity was ripping the heart out of the commercial life of Omagh as well as distilling fear and apprehension into local people.
He said it was important to assure the local community and the business fraternity that the special bomb hoax call investigation, which was set up earlier this year, was ongoing and vigorously pursued by officers from within the CID.
He said he appreciated that people were feeling frustrated that the problem was still ongoing but explained it was a complex problem which was happening in centres throughout Northern Ireland but more so in Omagh.
"We are doing everything in our power to catch these individuals but it is a very complex and protracted investigation," said the Chief Inspector.
He accused those responsible of showing a complete disregard for the Omagh community who have been subjected to so much pain and suffering without having to endure this mindless activity.
"The type of activity also causes fear and apprehension for people who come to visit the town," said the Chief Inspector.
He added that the special team which had been set up to investigate the plague of calls consisted of a committed team of CID officers and officers from the BT liaison Unit. They were working closely together to try and apprehend the hoaxers.
Referring to the latest bomb scare he said the call was made to the Samaritans in Newry, advising that a bomb was to go off at 5.00pm in the High Street area of the town.
The Chief Inspector also revealed that the same caller also referred to a bomb in Limavady.
Police, he said, were treating the matter with the utmost urgency and revealed that in view of the significant increase of the hoax bomb calls, a specialised team, was put into place.
"Police are taking this very seriously and are doing everything possible to apprehend those responsible. We are continuing with our best endeavours. We believe that the people involved are not working in isolation and we would appeal to anyone with information to contact the confidential phone number," he said.
He pointed out that until the bomb hoax callers are caught human safety was paramount in dealing with the bomb scares.
"We know that evacuation of the town centre can cause annoyance to people who are engaged in their lawful daily business but human safety is our top concern," added the Chief Inspector.
The president of Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Bill Reilly unreservedly condemned the continuing bomb scares with in Omagh Town Centre on behalf of his members.
"The economic affect on the town centre traders is enormous especially at a time when trading is so difficult," he said.
"However the traumatic affect on people, most of whom remember Saturday 15th August '98 and many of whom are related or even involved with the event, is even more serious."
He called on all authorities to leave no stone unturned in their efforts to stamp out the scares and to allow the people to try and rebuild their lives and business as it is the right of any civilised community.
He added that the Chamber was committed to continuing their efforts to bring Omagh back to normality and to launch it into the 21st century.
Among the local politicians to condemn the latest scare was Joe Byrne, MLA for West Tyrone, who described it as a "cowardly act" by individuals who are only damaging the economic life of the town.
Mr Byrne said: "The culprits who are terrorising the community have no sense of the damage they are causing to the economic life of their town."
By JACQUELINE COURTNEY
TERROR returned to the streets of Omagh this week - cruelly on the day that the Bomb Inquests was drawing to a conclusion in the nearby Leisure complex.
The latest scare on Tuesday, has been widely condemned in business, commercial and political circles.
It resulted in the town centre being evacuated again for almost the 70th time since the August atrocity of 1998.
Those responsible have been accused of terrorising a community - still trying to recover from the bomb and after painfully reliving the horrors of that murderous day at the Inquests.
Condemning Tuesday afternoon's scare, which paralysed the town for several hours before the area was declared safe, Chief Inspector John Brennan said the ongoing unlawful activity was ripping the heart out of the commercial life of Omagh as well as distilling fear and apprehension into local people.
He said it was important to assure the local community and the business fraternity that the special bomb hoax call investigation, which was set up earlier this year, was ongoing and vigorously pursued by officers from within the CID.
He said he appreciated that people were feeling frustrated that the problem was still ongoing but explained it was a complex problem which was happening in centres throughout Northern Ireland but more so in Omagh.
"We are doing everything in our power to catch these individuals but it is a very complex and protracted investigation," said the Chief Inspector.
He accused those responsible of showing a complete disregard for the Omagh community who have been subjected to so much pain and suffering without having to endure this mindless activity.
"The type of activity also causes fear and apprehension for people who come to visit the town," said the Chief Inspector.
He added that the special team which had been set up to investigate the plague of calls consisted of a committed team of CID officers and officers from the BT liaison Unit. They were working closely together to try and apprehend the hoaxers.
Referring to the latest bomb scare he said the call was made to the Samaritans in Newry, advising that a bomb was to go off at 5.00pm in the High Street area of the town.
The Chief Inspector also revealed that the same caller also referred to a bomb in Limavady.
Police, he said, were treating the matter with the utmost urgency and revealed that in view of the significant increase of the hoax bomb calls, a specialised team, was put into place.
"Police are taking this very seriously and are doing everything possible to apprehend those responsible. We are continuing with our best endeavours. We believe that the people involved are not working in isolation and we would appeal to anyone with information to contact the confidential phone number," he said.
He pointed out that until the bomb hoax callers are caught human safety was paramount in dealing with the bomb scares.
"We know that evacuation of the town centre can cause annoyance to people who are engaged in their lawful daily business but human safety is our top concern," added the Chief Inspector.
The president of Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Bill Reilly unreservedly condemned the continuing bomb scares with in Omagh Town Centre on behalf of his members.
"The economic affect on the town centre traders is enormous especially at a time when trading is so difficult," he said.
"However the traumatic affect on people, most of whom remember Saturday 15th August '98 and many of whom are related or even involved with the event, is even more serious."
He called on all authorities to leave no stone unturned in their efforts to stamp out the scares and to allow the people to try and rebuild their lives and business as it is the right of any civilised community.
He added that the Chamber was committed to continuing their efforts to bring Omagh back to normality and to launch it into the 21st century.
Among the local politicians to condemn the latest scare was Joe Byrne, MLA for West Tyrone, who described it as a "cowardly act" by individuals who are only damaging the economic life of the town.
Mr Byrne said: "The culprits who are terrorising the community have no sense of the damage they are causing to the economic life of their town."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1492
Published Date: 05-Oct-00
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