BLAIR TO MEET OMAGH FAMILIES
Blair to meet Omagh families
Irish Minister rules out cross-border public inquiry after court proceedings
THE first ever meeting between the Omagh Families and Prime Minister Tony Blair will take place within the month.
Michael Gallagher, Chairman of the Families Support Group will head a delegation to Downing Street on November 29.
Speaking yesterday Mr Gallagher said "Hopefully we will achieve something positive out of this meeting, because there hasn't been much positive in our lives over the last seven years."
They will be pressing Mr Blair for a promise that he will agree to a full public inquiry into the bombing, once outstanding criminal and civil proceedings connected to Omagh are dealt with.
JAILED
Colm Murphy, 52, the only person to be convicted in connection with the bombing, is due to face a re-trial in Dublin in January, and Sean Hoey, 36, another South Armagh man who has been accused of the 29 murders, is not expected to stand trial in Belfast until well into next year.
At the same time, some of the families are pressing ahead with a �14 million High Court compensation claim against the five men they claim were responsible for the atrocity.
Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern has already ruled out a cross-border inquiry until those cases are out of the way, but Mr Blair will be urged to give the families a pledge that he will agree to one being held eventually.
Mr Gallagher said "It's important, not just for Omagh. The reason for an inquiry such as this is to establish the circumstances of what happened, to determine what mistakes were made, and to see what lessons can be learned.
TRANSPARENT
"He can give the families a commitment that any tribunal will be open and transparent. What is there to hide?."
A number of the families have already spoken of their dismay at the lack of political action, particularly in the North, to establish the full truth of Omagh, including the work of police Special Branch on both sides of the Irish border at the time the Real IRA bombed the town without warning.
Mr Gallagher said "Let us at least examine the circumstances around Omagh, and if there are lessons to be learned, then let's apply them - not just to Omagh, but right across the country.
"We are looking for something positive from this meeting to give the families something positive to hold on to."
Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern has already ruled out a cross-border inquiry until those cases are out of the way, but Mr Blair will be urged to give the families a pledge that he will agree to one being held event.
Irish Minister rules out cross-border public inquiry after court proceedings
THE first ever meeting between the Omagh Families and Prime Minister Tony Blair will take place within the month.
Michael Gallagher, Chairman of the Families Support Group will head a delegation to Downing Street on November 29.
Speaking yesterday Mr Gallagher said "Hopefully we will achieve something positive out of this meeting, because there hasn't been much positive in our lives over the last seven years."
They will be pressing Mr Blair for a promise that he will agree to a full public inquiry into the bombing, once outstanding criminal and civil proceedings connected to Omagh are dealt with.
JAILED
Colm Murphy, 52, the only person to be convicted in connection with the bombing, is due to face a re-trial in Dublin in January, and Sean Hoey, 36, another South Armagh man who has been accused of the 29 murders, is not expected to stand trial in Belfast until well into next year.
At the same time, some of the families are pressing ahead with a �14 million High Court compensation claim against the five men they claim were responsible for the atrocity.
Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern has already ruled out a cross-border inquiry until those cases are out of the way, but Mr Blair will be urged to give the families a pledge that he will agree to one being held eventually.
Mr Gallagher said "It's important, not just for Omagh. The reason for an inquiry such as this is to establish the circumstances of what happened, to determine what mistakes were made, and to see what lessons can be learned.
TRANSPARENT
"He can give the families a commitment that any tribunal will be open and transparent. What is there to hide?."
A number of the families have already spoken of their dismay at the lack of political action, particularly in the North, to establish the full truth of Omagh, including the work of police Special Branch on both sides of the Irish border at the time the Real IRA bombed the town without warning.
Mr Gallagher said "Let us at least examine the circumstances around Omagh, and if there are lessons to be learned, then let's apply them - not just to Omagh, but right across the country.
"We are looking for something positive from this meeting to give the families something positive to hold on to."
Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern has already ruled out a cross-border inquiry until those cases are out of the way, but Mr Blair will be urged to give the families a pledge that he will agree to one being held event.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1834
Published Date: 27-Oct-05
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