OMAGH NOT YET READY FOR RECONCILIATION
Omagh not yet ready for reconciliation'
BY ADRIAN MULLAN
Bereaved husband rejects former President's words on Omagh
RECONCILIATION and healing were the subjects of former President Mary Robinson's lecture when she appeared at Omagh Leisure Centre at the weekend. Accepted as one of the great champions of the underdog and an unstinting advocate of human rights, Mrs Robinson has taken the centre stage for the past decade in resisting the exploitation of developing countries and in trying to instil a greater measure of humanity into the political institutions of the United Nations, and separate nation states.
However, her lecture 'Lessons from Omagh to the World, Lessons to Omagh from the World', was according to the husband of murder victim Libby Rush, a view of the world 'through rose coloured glasses.'
JUSTICE
He rejected the notion that Omagh had reached a stage of reconciliation, insisting instead that there must be justice for those who murdered 31 people in the Omagh bombing. He also rejected the notion that a truth and reconciliation commission could somehow address matters in the absence of trials before the law.
HEALING PROCESS
Mrs Robinson stated that wanting justice was part of the healing process. She added that she too wanted the perpetrators brought to justice.
She acknowledged that the pain of the bereaved and injured of Omagh was still raw and that there was still a great deal of hurt all of which was preventing healing from taking place 'in a more rounded way.'
Mr Rush commented about the bombers, "They are going to be brought to justice and I'm not going to negotiate with anyone. I'm going to look for justice even if it takes the next 100 years."
Other relatives of those killed expressed the view that they did not want vengeance but justice.
BY ADRIAN MULLAN
Bereaved husband rejects former President's words on Omagh
RECONCILIATION and healing were the subjects of former President Mary Robinson's lecture when she appeared at Omagh Leisure Centre at the weekend. Accepted as one of the great champions of the underdog and an unstinting advocate of human rights, Mrs Robinson has taken the centre stage for the past decade in resisting the exploitation of developing countries and in trying to instil a greater measure of humanity into the political institutions of the United Nations, and separate nation states.
However, her lecture 'Lessons from Omagh to the World, Lessons to Omagh from the World', was according to the husband of murder victim Libby Rush, a view of the world 'through rose coloured glasses.'
JUSTICE
He rejected the notion that Omagh had reached a stage of reconciliation, insisting instead that there must be justice for those who murdered 31 people in the Omagh bombing. He also rejected the notion that a truth and reconciliation commission could somehow address matters in the absence of trials before the law.
HEALING PROCESS
Mrs Robinson stated that wanting justice was part of the healing process. She added that she too wanted the perpetrators brought to justice.
She acknowledged that the pain of the bereaved and injured of Omagh was still raw and that there was still a great deal of hurt all of which was preventing healing from taking place 'in a more rounded way.'
Mr Rush commented about the bombers, "They are going to be brought to justice and I'm not going to negotiate with anyone. I'm going to look for justice even if it takes the next 100 years."
Other relatives of those killed expressed the view that they did not want vengeance but justice.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1607
Published Date: 21-Aug-03
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