FATHER OF OMAGH BOMB VICTIM BACKS REAL IRA DEMANDS
Father of Omagh bomb victim backs Real IRA demands
THE FATHER of one of the Omagh bomb victims has backed demands that Real IRA prisoners be repatriated from English jails to prisons in Ireland.
Despite losing his son James in the 1998 Real IRA atrocity, Victor Barker has called on the British Government to transfer republican inmates from England to jails in either the Republic or the North of Ireland.
He described the relations and loved ones of Real IRA prisoners in England as 'innocent parties' who are punished by having to travel long distances for visits.
Barker made his call after supporters of the Real IRA staged a rally at Free Derry Corner last week demanding that several dissident republicans, including brothers Aiden and Robert Hulme, be transferred to jails near their families in Ireland. The Hulmes were convicted of a bomb attack on Ealing Broadway in London in 2001.
In response to the campaign by the Real IRA's political allies, the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, Barker said the British government was in danger of falling into a republican trap.
"I fully agree that under no circumstances should prisoners be denied their human rights - they should be incarcerated for their crimes as near as possible to their families, provided that they serve their sentences in a properly supervised environment.
"It is quite wrong that their families - who are innocent parties here - should have to travel huge distances to see their loved ones. If we treat others in an inhumane way, we give way to the terrorists and become more like them," he said.
Mr Barker also warned the British government that it is in danger of being manipulated via the prisoner-transfer issue. He said the same mistakes were being replicated by western nations in the global 'war against terror'.
Victor Barker's son James along with 28 other people and two unborn twins were killed in the bomb blast in the centre of Omagh eight years ago.
Barker is part of a group of Omagh relatives currently suing alleged Real IRA leaders through the civil courts in Northern Ireland.
Although the Real IRA quickly called a ceasefire following the Omagh massacre, it later re-grouped and launched a fresh offensive against commercial and high-profile targets in London, including the BBC headquarters at White City, and Birmingham five years ago.
Its support organisation - the 32 County Sovereignty Committee - actively promotes the continuation of 'armed struggle' through its website.
Several individuals who lost loved ones in the Omagh bombing recently reported the site to police forces in Britain and Ireland. However, both New Scotland Yard and the Strathclyde Police refused to conduct any inquiries into the website.
THE FATHER of one of the Omagh bomb victims has backed demands that Real IRA prisoners be repatriated from English jails to prisons in Ireland.
Despite losing his son James in the 1998 Real IRA atrocity, Victor Barker has called on the British Government to transfer republican inmates from England to jails in either the Republic or the North of Ireland.
He described the relations and loved ones of Real IRA prisoners in England as 'innocent parties' who are punished by having to travel long distances for visits.
Barker made his call after supporters of the Real IRA staged a rally at Free Derry Corner last week demanding that several dissident republicans, including brothers Aiden and Robert Hulme, be transferred to jails near their families in Ireland. The Hulmes were convicted of a bomb attack on Ealing Broadway in London in 2001.
In response to the campaign by the Real IRA's political allies, the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, Barker said the British government was in danger of falling into a republican trap.
"I fully agree that under no circumstances should prisoners be denied their human rights - they should be incarcerated for their crimes as near as possible to their families, provided that they serve their sentences in a properly supervised environment.
"It is quite wrong that their families - who are innocent parties here - should have to travel huge distances to see their loved ones. If we treat others in an inhumane way, we give way to the terrorists and become more like them," he said.
Mr Barker also warned the British government that it is in danger of being manipulated via the prisoner-transfer issue. He said the same mistakes were being replicated by western nations in the global 'war against terror'.
Victor Barker's son James along with 28 other people and two unborn twins were killed in the bomb blast in the centre of Omagh eight years ago.
Barker is part of a group of Omagh relatives currently suing alleged Real IRA leaders through the civil courts in Northern Ireland.
Although the Real IRA quickly called a ceasefire following the Omagh massacre, it later re-grouped and launched a fresh offensive against commercial and high-profile targets in London, including the BBC headquarters at White City, and Birmingham five years ago.
Its support organisation - the 32 County Sovereignty Committee - actively promotes the continuation of 'armed struggle' through its website.
Several individuals who lost loved ones in the Omagh bombing recently reported the site to police forces in Britain and Ireland. However, both New Scotland Yard and the Strathclyde Police refused to conduct any inquiries into the website.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1838
Published Date: 06-Apr-06
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