TUNNEL VISION BARBARITY ADOPTED BY BOMBERS
Tunnel-vision barbarity' adopted by bombers - father
LAWYER, Victor Barker has slammed the Government for failing to grasp the severity of the security situation both before and since the Omagh bombing.
And he also denounced the 'tunnel-vision barbarity' adopted by the Real IRA and 32 County Sovereignty Movement whom he held responsible for the death of his son, James.
Mr Barker was speaking after attending the Inquest into the death of James which was held at Omagh Leisure Centre last Thursday. The hearing brought to a close the four-week Inquest into the deaths of 29 men women and children and unborn twins who died in the Market Street massacre.
In a statement issued on behalf of himself, his wife Donna-Marie and family, Esther, Estella and Oliver, Mr Barker again called on the Sinn Fein leadership to encourage Republicans to pass on any information they may have to Gardai.
He said he had asked both Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness to come to Omagh last week, but had been told they were both busy. "They don't seem to want to meet with me for some reason," he said, "They were quite happy to come to my son's funeral."
Mr Barker also revealed that he had written to Secretary of State, Peter Mandelson on numerous occasion, in an effort to get him to put pressure on the Sinn Fein leadership to do something about the people they knew were involved.
Praising those who tended to his seriously injured son, Mr Barker said the family was indebted for the "bravery and commitment" shown by rescuers.
"No human being should be asked to endure the horror of that day and to undertake the tasks which these men undertook voluntarily and without question," he said.
"This, in itself, deserves the praise and gratitude of everyone, as much as the murderous acts of ruthless terrorists who perpetrated this outrage deserve worldwide condemnation."
Flanked by others who lost loved ones in the explosion, Mr Barker produced a poster showing a photograph of his son bearing the words "Murdered by the 32 County Sovereignty Committtee/Real IRA."
Distancing himself from those who questioned the role of RUC officers on the day, the solicitor added that he wished to thank those who treated his son following the explosion.
"My condemnation, if any, is directed towards this Government, and their failure to grasp and convey to the public what was a real security alert situation in the days leading up to Omagh, in confining the Army to barracks as part of the peace settlement, and indeed their continued inaction in failing to give all the help and assistance to those who are investigating this outrage.
"I find it inexcusable that the Government of Great Britain has only chosen to give us pieties about the hunt for the Omagh bombers, and has singularly failed to deliver any form of justice to the innocent victims, especially the many innocent children whose lives and bodies were shattered, including my son James."
Mr Barker said that even if the RUC response to the bomb warning could be shown to have been inadequate or ineffectual, there was a singular difference between security forces and terrorists, when bombs were planted.
"The security forces have to run towards them, the terrorists only have to run away," he said.
"I remain steadfast in my opinion that right minded people in this country will ultimately unite with me in condemning the tunnel vision barbarity which pervades the Real IRA, and their political wing, the 32 County Sovereignty Committee.
"I know that I share the views of many who will continue to pursue those responsible with every means at their disposal, and to bring those who perpetrated this atrocity to justice, no matter how long it takes. The victims of Omagh have not gone away.
"Don't talk to me about the armed struggle. Don't attempt to justify the indefensible. There was no military or political target in Omagh. You have simply murdered the innocent in cold blood, and to your eternal shame, you have murdered women and children," Mr Barker added.
LAWYER, Victor Barker has slammed the Government for failing to grasp the severity of the security situation both before and since the Omagh bombing.
And he also denounced the 'tunnel-vision barbarity' adopted by the Real IRA and 32 County Sovereignty Movement whom he held responsible for the death of his son, James.
Mr Barker was speaking after attending the Inquest into the death of James which was held at Omagh Leisure Centre last Thursday. The hearing brought to a close the four-week Inquest into the deaths of 29 men women and children and unborn twins who died in the Market Street massacre.
In a statement issued on behalf of himself, his wife Donna-Marie and family, Esther, Estella and Oliver, Mr Barker again called on the Sinn Fein leadership to encourage Republicans to pass on any information they may have to Gardai.
He said he had asked both Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness to come to Omagh last week, but had been told they were both busy. "They don't seem to want to meet with me for some reason," he said, "They were quite happy to come to my son's funeral."
Mr Barker also revealed that he had written to Secretary of State, Peter Mandelson on numerous occasion, in an effort to get him to put pressure on the Sinn Fein leadership to do something about the people they knew were involved.
Praising those who tended to his seriously injured son, Mr Barker said the family was indebted for the "bravery and commitment" shown by rescuers.
"No human being should be asked to endure the horror of that day and to undertake the tasks which these men undertook voluntarily and without question," he said.
"This, in itself, deserves the praise and gratitude of everyone, as much as the murderous acts of ruthless terrorists who perpetrated this outrage deserve worldwide condemnation."
Flanked by others who lost loved ones in the explosion, Mr Barker produced a poster showing a photograph of his son bearing the words "Murdered by the 32 County Sovereignty Committtee/Real IRA."
Distancing himself from those who questioned the role of RUC officers on the day, the solicitor added that he wished to thank those who treated his son following the explosion.
"My condemnation, if any, is directed towards this Government, and their failure to grasp and convey to the public what was a real security alert situation in the days leading up to Omagh, in confining the Army to barracks as part of the peace settlement, and indeed their continued inaction in failing to give all the help and assistance to those who are investigating this outrage.
"I find it inexcusable that the Government of Great Britain has only chosen to give us pieties about the hunt for the Omagh bombers, and has singularly failed to deliver any form of justice to the innocent victims, especially the many innocent children whose lives and bodies were shattered, including my son James."
Mr Barker said that even if the RUC response to the bomb warning could be shown to have been inadequate or ineffectual, there was a singular difference between security forces and terrorists, when bombs were planted.
"The security forces have to run towards them, the terrorists only have to run away," he said.
"I remain steadfast in my opinion that right minded people in this country will ultimately unite with me in condemning the tunnel vision barbarity which pervades the Real IRA, and their political wing, the 32 County Sovereignty Committee.
"I know that I share the views of many who will continue to pursue those responsible with every means at their disposal, and to bring those who perpetrated this atrocity to justice, no matter how long it takes. The victims of Omagh have not gone away.
"Don't talk to me about the armed struggle. Don't attempt to justify the indefensible. There was no military or political target in Omagh. You have simply murdered the innocent in cold blood, and to your eternal shame, you have murdered women and children," Mr Barker added.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1509
Published Date: 12-Oct-00
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