16.8.1998
Sunday, 16 August, 1998
Not in our Name
28 dead, hundreds injured in Omagh bomb - Appeals for unity in pursuit of peace settlement
As the death toll from yesterday's bombing in Omagh rose to 28 dead and hundreds injured, the town's residents are today struggling to cope with the scale of the tragedy.
A 500 pound bomb detonated inside a Red Vauxhall car hundreds of yards from the town courthouse where a warning had indicated the bomb was planted. Disastrously, it exploded in the midst of a crowd which had just been evacuated into the immediate neighbourhood of the car. Civilians from both the Catholic and Protestant communities, and from neither, died together.
Although no organisation has claimed responsibilty for the attack, militant republican dissidents opposed to the peace process are believed to have carried out the bombing. There are hopes that public outrage over the Omagh atrocity will bring an end to their massively counter-productive bombing campaign.
The fatalities included four boys, three from across the border in Buncrana, County Donegal; five girls including an 18-month-old infant; thirteen adult women and six adult men. A female Spanish teacher and student, both from Madrid, died in the blast on their way to a folk museum in the town, while fifteen other Spanish nationals in their school tour were among the scores of casualties. Three of the fatalities represented three generations of one family from the village of Augher, near Omagh. A 65-year-old grandmother, her 30-year-old daughter, in an advanced state of pregnancy, and her 18-month-old baby were among the dead.
Tyrone County Hospital has activated its major emergency plan to deal with the huge number of injured and bereaved. Two bodies remain unidentified. Ten of the injured are listed in critical condition.
The shock and confusion in the town has been exacerbated today by a massive influx of camera crews and international media. With many telephone networks out of operation because of the blast, distraught victims and relatives experienced difficulties in tracking down family members and friends.
Omagh was preparing for a cross-community carnival when warnings of a bomb outside the town courthouse were received by a television news-room. Forty minutes later, the device detonated outside shops on the corner of Market Street and Dublin Road amid curious shoppers and carnival-goers waiting at police lines for the end of the security alert.
There were immediate allegations by the RUC police that the bombers had deliberately provided a misleading warning in the knowledge that civilians would be shepherded toward the bomb by police. Other reports suggested the bombers were unable to reach the planned target because of carnival traffic obstructions, and simply parked their vehicle in the nearest space.
Across the country, the predominant reaction was of disbelief.
The town of Omagh is 75% nationalist with good cross-community relations, and has largely escaped the worst of the conflict.
Although Republican dissidents have carried out a spate of similar bombings in the past year, the towns targeted -- Portadown, Moira, Banbridge, Newtownmanorhamilton, Markethill -- have been mainly Protestant and further east. There was some concern that the large and increasing support for Sinn Fein in Omagh, where it is the dominant political party, could have motivated the bombing as a sick "message" to Republican supporters of the peace process.
Political leaders who have universally condemned the bomb have also appealed for calm and unity in defence of the peace process.
Sinn Fein MP for Mid Ulster Martin McGuinness reacting to the news said he was "appalled and disgusted" at what had happened. It was an indefensible action by people who were "aligning themselves with the forces opposed to a democratic settlement of the conflict", he said. He called on whatever group was responsible to stop immediately.
"This appalling act was carried out by those opposed to the peace process. It is designed to wreck the process and everyone should work to ensure the peace process continues."
He urged a united front among the political leaders to keep building the peace process which others were attempting to undermine. "We're all very concerned about how to stop the activities of these people," he said. "If we lead from the front, if we keep our nerve...then we can get the type of leadership people require."
Ulster Unionist spokesman Ken Maginnis said the bombing was "a dreadful crime against humanity". Amid calls by hardliners for the return of internment without trial, Mr Maginnis angrily insisted he knew who the bombers were yet they seemed to be "acting with impunity". "They seem to be able to come and go as they please," he said.
Other unionist leaders attempted to exploit the deaths for political gain. Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble, blamed Sinn Fein for the attack which he said showed that "Sinn Fein/IRA" would have to surrender its weapons.
"Make no mistake about it -- this bomb would not have been made or detonated if Sinn Fein/IRA had handed over its explosives and weapons," he said.
Arriving in Omagh after breaking his holidays, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams MP urged people not to "play politics" with the tragedy and repeated his unequivocal condemnation of the Omagh bomb.
He expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and his sympathy to those recovering in hospital. There was a "path out of this dark tunnel", he told them.
"Like many other people I am shocked at the enormous loss of life here in Omagh. This is a tragedy for all the people of Ireland, but particularly for the people of Tyrone."
The West Belfast MP said he hoped that those who planted this bomb understand the enormity of their actions.
"They should admit their responsibilty for it without delay and they should stop their activity immediately," he said. He urged the new First Minister David Trimble and Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon to hold urgent talks on the situation.
"This is not a time for anyone to be playing politics with this tragedy. There is now an urgent need for Mr. Trimble and Mr. Mallon to call together the leaders of all the political parties to discuss this crisis.
"I am appealing to people even in the midst of this awful event not to lose hope, not to despair. There is a path out of this dark tunnel. I will work with others, as we have been doing all along, to secure the peace that all of us want."
Mr Adams today held meetings with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who flew to Ireland for a series of meetings in Belfast with political leaders, the Irish Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern and the RUC police Chief Constable.
Mr Blair said he would not let the dissidents "wreck the future of the decent people of Northern Ireland. It doesn't belong to the criminals and psychopaths.
"They are a small group of people, a tiny fanatical group of people. They have no political base, they have no votes, they have no support in Northern Ireland. They have just this capacity for evil."
Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern vowed to "crush" the republican militarists. After meeting with security chiefs in Dublin Mr Ahern said: "Whatever resources are necessary to crush this organisation will be given."
Internationally, the response has been equally vocal. Figures such as US President Bill Clinton, Queen Elizabeth and the Pope have joined in condemnations of the atrocity, with the US President describing it as "butchery".
"I renew my pledge to stand with the people of Northern Ireland against the perpetrators of violence; they will find no friends here," Clinton said in a statement from the White House. A spokesman said he t had no immediate plans to scrap his Sept. 3 visit to Ireland.
South African President Nelson Mandela said he was shocked and dismayed by the news.
"Please accept South Africa's deepest sympathy at the lives lost. We mourn with the families of the deceased and pray for a speedy recovery of the injured," he said.
Mandela urged political leaders and parties to continue to strive for peace and "not allow this repulsive act to deter them."
"The overwhelmingly positive results in the recent Irish referendums showed a determined desire for peace rather than conflict and violence. So much goodwill and faith should not be lost to the mindless violence of a few," he said.
Amid the storm of reaction, the people of Omagh remained traumatised and bewildered.
Yesterday's festival organiser, Gerry McCusker, said his town had been devastated. "We have worked so hard to bring the community closer. We will never recover. Omagh will never be the same again."
"Words cannot describe it. I can't describe how sorry and sad we are, the whole town is devastated."
Local councillor John Kelly described the bombing as "sheer madness". He said people in Omagh did not know why such an attack had been carried out. "It is difficult to understand in the present political climate."