MACKEY PORTRAIT TO STAY
Mackey portrait to stay
BY JOHN CARNEY
THE Omagh Self Help and Support Group's bid to have a photograph of former Council Chairman Francis Mackey taken down from the council's gallery wall has been rejected at the monthly council meeting.
Instead two proposals, one from the SDLP's Seamus Shields and the other from Independent Councillor Johnny McLaughlin were passed unanimously for the Council to receive a delegation from the group to clarify the situation, and to reiterate their support to all the relatives of those who died in the bombing.
The council has group photographs of councillors and individual photographs of past chairpersons in a small gallery outside the main council chamber.
Mackey, who had been elected as a Sinn Fein Councillor in the 1980s, broke away from that party in 1997 and associated himself with the 32 County Sovreignity Committee which was widely reported to have had strong links with the group which bombed Omagh the "Real" IRA.
Following the atrocity in August 1998, there was confusion over whether Mackey had actually condemned the bombing. Despite the controversy however, Mackey actually had condemned the bombing, something that was omitted from reports at the time.
Mr Shields said: "As I understand it this man (Mr Mackey) has not been charged or convicted on any charge. These are issues we have to take into account. But we all acknowlege the great work the group has done and we welcome any further questions they may have."
BY JOHN CARNEY
THE Omagh Self Help and Support Group's bid to have a photograph of former Council Chairman Francis Mackey taken down from the council's gallery wall has been rejected at the monthly council meeting.
Instead two proposals, one from the SDLP's Seamus Shields and the other from Independent Councillor Johnny McLaughlin were passed unanimously for the Council to receive a delegation from the group to clarify the situation, and to reiterate their support to all the relatives of those who died in the bombing.
The council has group photographs of councillors and individual photographs of past chairpersons in a small gallery outside the main council chamber.
Mackey, who had been elected as a Sinn Fein Councillor in the 1980s, broke away from that party in 1997 and associated himself with the 32 County Sovreignity Committee which was widely reported to have had strong links with the group which bombed Omagh the "Real" IRA.
Following the atrocity in August 1998, there was confusion over whether Mackey had actually condemned the bombing. Despite the controversy however, Mackey actually had condemned the bombing, something that was omitted from reports at the time.
Mr Shields said: "As I understand it this man (Mr Mackey) has not been charged or convicted on any charge. These are issues we have to take into account. But we all acknowlege the great work the group has done and we welcome any further questions they may have."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1539
Published Date: 06-Feb-03
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