SAOIRSE32

Irish American Information Service

11/30/05 13:05 EST

Some police officers in Northern Ireland opposed to power sharing and the Good Friday Agreement are intent on undermining the process, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said today.

As Sinn Fein Assembly member Francie Brolly continued to be questioned by detectives investigating an IRA triple car bomb attack in Claudy, Co Derry in 1972, Mr Adams claimed political policing was being allowed to go unchecked in Northern Ireland.

He also said the remaining challenge for the British Government was to make policing more accountable by transferring policing and justice powers from Westminster to a new devolved administration at Stormont.

As he confirmed more republicans in west Belfast had been told their lives were in danger following the discovery of a security forces dossier containing their personal details in loyalist hands, Mr Adams said: “Hugh Orde said in early 2003 that there are some in the PSNI who want him to fail. I believe that there are still securocrats who want the Agreement, power-sharing and negotiations for a new beginning to policing, to fail.”

“The evidence of the last three years shows that many of them are still in the PSNI.”

In November 2001, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, which was 93% Protestant, became the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) following the implementation of some recommendations proposed by the Patten commission on police reform.

In a bid to increase Catholic and nationalist numbers, half of all PSNI recruits are drawn from the Catholic community while hundreds of RUC officers also left the force under a very generous severance package.

With police accountability regarded a key issue for nationalists, Northern Ireland Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde and his officers are answerable to a Policing Board made up of locally elected politicians and independent members and to local district policing partnerships.

Complaints against the police are also investigated by the Police Ombudsman Nuala O`Loan`s investigative team.

The nationalist SDLP, Irish government and Catholic bishops have backed the reforms and the Irish sporting organisation, the Gaelic Athletic Association lifted a ban on police officers playing Gaelic football and hurling.

However, Sinn Fein has withheld its support, pointing out that key Patten Report recommendations have not been implemented.

Mr Adams today accused the SDLP of jumping too soon to endorse policing and said the party was to blame for political policing.

“In four years on the Policing Board, they have failed to hold the political detectives publicly to account and failed to end collusion and political policing,” he said.

“In Westminster two weeks ago, their MPs voted for the reintroduction of 28-day detention orders, taking us back to the days of the old Special Powers Act opposed by the Civil Rights movement.”

The Sinn Fein leader said his party wanted to ensure there would be no safe haven for politically-motivated policing in the future.

The West Belfast MP reported: “In negotiations on policing and justice since the Agreement, we have made huge progress. The core outstanding issue now is the transfer of powers on policing and justice away from London and out of the hands of British securocrats. Only in that way can policing be made democratically accountable and a new beginning to policing on this island be attainable.”

Irish American Information Service

11/28/05 08:56 EST

The Irish Government must press ahead with granting presidential pardons to paramilitary fugitives, Irish premier Bertie Ahern said today.

The mechanism to grant amnesties to the so called on-the-runs (OTRs) has been criticised by Opposition parties as being constitutionally dubious and hurtful to victims of unsolved crimes.

But Mr Ahern said the issue of pardons for OTRs had been in the pipeline since 2001 and had to be resolved to continue momentum in the North’s peace process.

Speaking after meeting British Prime Minister Tony Blair at the EU Mediterranean summit in Barcelona, Mr Ahern said the British government was very determined to pass controversial legislation on the issue and he would also press ahead.

“This was an arrangement that was made four-and-a-half-years ago exactly. It was very publicly announced at that time. What was agreed at that time is now going through the legislative process so Mr Blair is going ahead with that.”

Mr Ahern said that only a handful of people were likely to qualify for pardons under the Irish mechanism to deal with the issue.

“This is business that has to be completed,” he said. Under the Government’s plans, an Eligibility Board will receive and vet applications before passing them onto the Justice Department for consideration.

The Cabinet will then study candidates before finally referring them to President McAleese to grant the pardons.

Mr Ahern said the OTRs issue was negotiated under the Weston Park Agreement and Joint Declaration and refused to accept comments by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny that the mechanism was inappropriate, constitutionally dubious and hurtful to victims.

“This was an upfront agreement in 2001 to deal with what arose out of the 1998 position. The legal basis used was based on the Attorney General’s advice. This is an issue that has to be dealt with and completed. We allowed out all of the prisoners in 1998 so we’re now talking about people who were never caught and probably a lot of them would never return home. To get completion, these particular cases have to be dealt with,” he said.

BreakingNews.ie

30/11/2005 - 13:21:11

The SDLP has walked out of the monthly meeting of Derry City Council accusing Sinn Féin of making remarks that could endanger their members.

They said today they will not be back in the council chamber until the remarks are withdrawn.

Pat Ramsay, SDLP leader on the council, said the allegations made by Sinn Féin’s Kevin Campbell against the SDLP team “have no substance or foundation, but they could put the councillors’ homes and families at risk of attack”.

Councillor Ramsay said: “I am not prepared to let this happen. The SDLP team will not be returning to the council chamber unless Cllr Campbell withdraws the allegation he made at last night’s meeting.”

He said the comments made had broken an unwritten agreement that comments of a personal nature should not be made during debates in the council.

Sinn Féin said the SDLP had been the first to break the agreement and Cllr Campbell would not be withdrawing his remarks.

BBC

The Parades Commission rules on contentious marches

A former trade unionist from England has been appointed as the new chairman of the Parades Commission.

Roger Poole is expected to be named on Thursday, along with six other new commissioners for the marching body.

David Burrows, the once prominent Portadown Orangeman, has also been named in the new line up, which also includes three women.

Mr Poole had a prominent role as a chief negotiator of the national ambulance strike of 1989 to 1990.

He was also a key player in the merger of trade unions NUPE and COSI which formed Unison.

It is understood Mr Poole, who served as assistant general secretary of Unison, is already in Belfast preparing for his new role.

Appointments

Donald MacKay, who in the past stood as an Ulster Unionist for Craigavon Borough Council, has also been appointed, as has former SDLP MP Joe Hendron.

There was not a single woman on the outgoing Parades Commission, however, Ann Monaghan, who once stood for the Women’s Coalition, Vilma Patterson and Alison Scott-McKinley have been appointed to the body.

All of the new appointments will take up their posts in January.

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has challenged the new commisioners to “make contentious parades a thing of the past”.

“I am appointing this commission with a mandate to work itself out of a job by helping to create an environment in which accommodations on parades can be made between the two communities without the need for formal determinations,” he said.

“I am confident that Roger’s down to earth approach and willingness to engage with people will help move parades towards a new era and that he will be ably supported by the rest of the commission.”

The Parades Commission was set up in 1997 to make decisions on whether or not restrictions should be imposed on controversial parades during Northern Ireland’s marching season.

Daily Ireland

Ciarán Barnes

The arrest of Northern Bank employee Chris Ward in connection with last December’s robbery at its Belfast headquarters has been described as “politically motivated” by his solicitor.
The 24-year-old and a female bank employee were arrested yesterday following dawn raids by the PSNI in the Poleglass area of west Belfast.
After the heist, Mr Ward appeared on television and described how he had been taken hostage in the run-up to the raid.
He explained in detail how he and a colleague had been forced to facilitate the theft of £26.5 million (€38.7 million) from the bank’s city centre base.
In a statement released to Daily Ireland yesterday, solicitor Kevin Winters insisted that his client’s arrest was politically motivated and without basis.
Mr Winters said: “Mr Ward was a victim in this matter. At all times, he has been co-operative with all police and other inquiries.
“He has assisted police in every way he can. He has been under considerable stress since his ordeal when the robbery took place.”
Mr Winters said his client had been the subject of some adverse media commentary a short time after the robbery.
The lawyer added: “As a result of prejudicial and suggestive media commentary, Mr Ward took the decision to provide an interview with the BBC in order to set the record straight.
“That interview had the desired effect because it completely nullified any continued prejudicial media commentary.
“In turn, that decision by him has now been used by police to undermine him.
“Police are now referring to this media interview and are attempting to use it as some sort of evidential or other basis to question his credibility.
“It is extremely unfair for police to take this interview and attempt to compare it with other interviews he gave to police about his ordeal.
“This approach feeds into a flawed public perception. As matters presently stand, there is no evidence put to Mr Ward to justify his arrest and detention.”
Earlier this month, three men were charged in connection with the Northern Bank robbery. All of the suspects said they were innocent.
A small amount of cash recovered at a PSNI sports club in Belfast is believed to have come from the robbery.
With the bulk of stolen cash missing, most of it in Northern Bank notes, the bank was forced to issue redesigned currency and withdraw the earlier issue in a bid to make the robbers’ haul worthless.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, speaking about the arrests, said: “People should not be subjected to trial by media.
“One year on, there is still the same accusation being made and, one year on, that case has not been advanced at all.”

Daily Ireland

Ciarán Barnes

The Apprentice Boys have rejected calls to postpone a series of weekend parades as a mark of respect for George Best.
The Irish soccer legend will be buried on Saturday, at the same time as 16 Apprentice Boys’ marches are scheduled to take place throughout the North.
Nationalist residents’ groups which had planned to protest along some of the routes used by the Apprentice Boys have cancelled their demonstrations as a mark of respect.
However, Apprentice Boys’ leaders have refused to bend on the issue and insisted their parades will go ahead.
Even a last minute plea from a former Ulster Unionist Lord Mayor of Belfast last night has failed to change their minds.
Leading Orangeman Jim Rodgers called on the Apprentice Boys and Parades Commission to work together to set a new date for their Lundy Day march.
His call came after the Ardoyne Parades Dialogue Group in north Belfast confirmed they were cancelling a protest they had planned for Saturday.
Despite this the Apprentice Boys remain adamant that their parades will go ahead as planned.
Leading member William Hay said moving the date would cause difficulty and confusion.
“The main Londonderry parade was supposed to take place on December 18, but we moved it back to December 5 at the request of traders,” he said.
“To move it again would cause all sorts of problems. We are in a difficult situation becuase we understand and sympathise with people who want to go to George Best’s funeral, but moving the parade date just isn’t possible.”
The majority of the 16 Apprentice Boys’ parades planned for Saturday will take place in Belfast.
After each march, members will board buses and travel to Derry for the main Lundy Day demonstration.
Mr Rodgers, a long time friend of George Best, believes the conditions exist to reschedule the parades for another date.
He said: “Other events have been cancelled and postponed. If the Apprentice Boys could get a new date within the next week or so I can’t see why the parades can’t be moved.”
Nationalist resident groups said their decision to cancel parade protests was an indication to of their willingness to resolve the marching issue through dialogue.
“We hope that the loyal orders acknowledge and recognise this,” said spokesman Joe Marley.
A crowd of up to 500,000 is expected to gather at Stormont buildings for Geroge Best’s funeral.
Leading unionist politicans including Democratic Unionist Party MPs Peter Robinson and Gregory Campbell have said they will attend.
With the large numbers expected health and safety chiefs have ordered crowd restrictions. Only 30,000 mourners are to be allowed into the Stormont estate.
“This is a serious issue. We can’t cope with massive numbers,” said a spokesman.

Daily Ireland

Highly-respected 60-year-old SF assembly member among four people still being questioned by the PSNI last night allegedly in connection with a 1972 bombing

Eamonn Houston

A Sinn Féin assembly member was among four people still being questioned by the PSNI last night in connection with a 1972 bombing in which nine people were killed.
Sinn Féin said the arrest of Francie Brolly as part of the investigation into the Claudy bombing was politically motivated.
The 60-year-old East Derry assembly member was arrested in Dungiven, Co Derry, with another man during a PSNI swoop yesterday morning.
A 50-year-old man and a 58-year-old woman were also arrested in Portglenone in Co Antrim and Dungannon in Co Tyrone.
Three car bombs exploded in Claudy on July 31, 1972. Nine people were killed, including a nine-year-old girl.
Around 50 Sinn Féin protesters gathered at Dungiven PSNI station yesterday afternoon to demand the release of the four.
The protest was led by Sinn Féin general secretary Mitchel McLaughlin, who described Mr Brolly as “a highly respected representative”.
Mr McLaughlin told protesters that he suspected the involvement of Special Branch in the operation.
Mr Brolly’s wife Anne, a Sinn Féin councillor and former mayor of Limavady, has publicly backed calls for a judicial inquiry into the Claudy bombing.
“I felt what happened in Claudy was a grievous wrong,” Mrs Brolly said in 2003.
Mr Brolly and the three other people arrested were being held under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000. They can be held for questioning for two days.
In September 2002, the PSNI said it was reviewing the Claudy case after alleging the involvement of the Co Derry priest James Chesney in “terrorism” in the area. The priest died in 1980.
The Catholic Church disputed the claims, which arose from an anonymous letter allegedly sent by a priest in England to a newspaper. The letter claimed that Fr Chesney had informally confessed his involvement in the bombing to the letter writer. The Derry diocese questioned the authenticity of the letter.
The PSNI alleged a cover-up had been hatched between the British government and the then Catholic primate Cardinal William Conway to keep Fr Chesney’s involvement secret when rumours began to circulate that he was linked to the bombing.
Cardinal Conway moved the priest across the Border to Malin Head in Co Donegal, where he died eight years later.
Sinn Féin chief negotiator Martin McGuinness last night demanded the release of Mr Brolly and called into question the motives of the PSNI.
The Mid-Ulster MP said: “This morning, heavily armed PSNI members arrested East Derry assembly member Francie Brolly from his home in Dungiven.
“This is the latest and among the most blatant examples of political policing seen here in recent times.
“As has become the norm with this type of political policing, selected media outlets were briefed about the identities of those arrested,” he said.
Mr McGuinness described Mr Brolly as a key player in the peace process.
“His arrest is completely motivated by an anti-peace process and anti-Sinn Féin agenda operating at the heart of the Special Branch,” said the former Stormont education minister.
“Sinn Féin are demanding the immediate release of Francie Brolly, and we will be raising this issue with both the British and Irish governments.”
Francie and Anne Brolly are well known in Irish traditional music circles and have recorded a number of albums.
Mr Brolly also wrote the republican favourite The H-Block Song, which pays tribute to IRA prisoners who took part in blanket protests in the Maze prison during the Troubles.
Democratic Unionist Party assembly member Ian Paisley Jr said yesterday that anyone found guilty of the Claudy bombing should not be included in any amnesty for outstanding paramilitary crimes under on-the-run legislation, due for process through the British parliament.

Irish Independent

Wayne O’Donoghue arriving at Central Criminal Court in Cork yesterday where he admitted killing, but not murdering, 11 year-old Robert Holohan.

A STUDENT yesterday admitted killing schoolboy Robert Holohan.

Wayne O’Donoghue (21) took to the stand during a dramatic opening day of the trial into the murder of his young neighbour in Midleton, Co Cork, on January 4.

His parents sat side by side in the public gallery as he pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of the 11-year-old. He claimed he did not mean to kill the boy.

“Not guilty to murder - guilty to manslaughter,” he told Mr Justice Paul Carney.

The Central Criminal Court, sitting in Cork for only the second time, heard that O’Donoghue allegedly told gardai: “It was an accident.”

He told them: “I am sorry - he was like a brother to me.”

The court also heard the defendant put Robert’s lifeless body into the boot of his car and drove it to an isolated area.

BreakingNews.ie

30/11/2005 - 07:51:17

SIPTU has accused employers in the construction sector of engaging in similar activities to those that have caused huge controversy at Irish Ferries.

The trade union movement is refusing to engage in the partnership process as a result of Irish Ferries’ move to replace its existing workers with cheaper labour from eastern Europe.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions says this is part of a “race to the bottom” in the jobs market, with pay and conditions being eroded in the name of competitiveness.

SIPTU says this is most obvious in the construction sector, with agency workers and sub-contractors being used by some employers to “displace” existing staff.

The union also claims non-national workers in the building trade are being falsely categorised as self-employed so bosses can ignore agreed pay and conditions.

SIPTU spokesman Eric Fleming said the Government and employers needed to stamp out such activities or construction workers would be forced to take industrial action to protect their jobs.

BreakingNews.ie

30/11/2005 - 08:12:55

The PSNI has defended the arrest of a Sinn Féin Assemblyman in connection with an IRA bomb attack in the Co Derry village of Claudy more than 33 years ago.

Francie Brolly was among four people arrested yesterday in connection with the detonation of three no-warning car bombs in the village in July 1972.

Sinn Féin has accused the PSNI of carrying out the arrest for political reasons and has also accused the police of leaking Mr Brolly’s name to the media.

However, assistant chief constable Sam Kinkaid insisted last night that the arrest resulted from a new line of inquiry being pursued since the Claudy investigation was re-opened three years ago.

He also denied that the PSNI had told journalists Mr Brolly was among yesterday’s detainees.

Sinn Féin

Published: 29 November, 2005

Sinn Féin Employment spokesperson Arthur Morgan has called for a mass mobilisation for the day of action in support of Irish Ferries workers on 9th December. Speaking during a Dáil debate on the issue this evening Deputy Morgan said, “The Irish Ferries issue is symptomatic of wider problems in the state regarding the treatment of workers and the onward march of the neo liberal agenda.”

Deputy Morgan said, “The Irish Ferries issue is symptomatic of wider problems in the state regarding the treatment of workers and the onward march of the neo liberal agenda. Irish Ferries has effectively declared war on workers rights and conditions gained over many years. If Irish ferries is allowed to proceed in this way the floodgates will be opened.

“Some Government Ministers are saying this is an issue particular to Irish Ferries. It is not. Displacement of workers and their replacement with migrant workers who are subjected to low rates of pay and exploitative working conditions is a feature of how the labour force in this state now operates. It is time to say enough is enough. Those parties who do not want to see this agenda progress need to stand together with the trade union movement and oppose what is now underway.

“It is not acceptable for profitable companies such as Irish Ferries to break employment agreements reached with unions and force workers into a position where they have little choice but to accept the redundancy or drastically reduced pay and employment conditions.

“And it should be noted that Irish Ferries is a profitable company. The Labour Court rejected claims by Irish Ferries management that that the future viability of the company is dependent on proceeding with its proposals for replacing current staff with low paid agency workers from Eastern Europe and elsewhere. Further evidence that the company is not cash strapped comes from the fact that Irish Ferries boss Eamonn Rothwell gets paid in one hour what it will take the new agency workers two and a half weeks to earn.

“The actions of the company last week in putting on board the ships storm-troopers from a company specialising in global terrorism to enforce a new regime on Irish workers is a disgrace. To deploy such overtly military personnel, who may well have been armed, is a disgrace. The treatment of agency workers currently on board the Normandy and on other ships in the future is a disgrace. However, the biggest disgrace is the inaction of this Government. What does the Taoiseach say? He says he can do nothing. He throws up his hands as if he were an unemployed person walking up O’Connell Street in the afternoon. Somebody should tap him on the shoulder and say: ‘Bertie, you are Taoiseach of this bloody State. You are the guy in charge. How can you do nothing about it?’ Of course, we know the answer. The Taoiseach does not have the will to do anything about it.

“I hope that there will be a mass mobilisation in support of the day of action on the 9th December. That people come out and make it clear to the government that inaction is not good enough – that a wink and nod attitude to the management to go ahead is unacceptable.” ENDS

BBC ON THIS DAY

30 November 1995

The moment the president shook hands with Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams

The people of Northern Ireland have given a rapturous welcome to President Bill Clinton, the first serving US president to visit their country.

At the end of an emotional day that saw Bill and Hillary Clinton visit communities on both sides of the sectarian divide, the president lit Belfast’s Christmas lights from behind a bulletproof screen.

Standing in front of a giant Christmas Tree shipped over from Belfast’s twin city, Nashville, Tennessee he told the thousands of Clinton fans that America and Northern Ireland were “partners for security, partners for prosperity, and most important, partners for peace”.

The president and the First Lady had spent the day mobbed by ecstatic crowds both on the Protestant Shankill Road and the Catholic stronghold of the Falls Road.

Then after a short helicopter ride to Londonderry, Northern Ireland’s predominantly nationalist second city, tens of thousands waving the Stars and Stripes turned out in the bitter cold to greet the couple, who were accompanied by SDLP leader John Hume.

But it was a nine-year-old girl that provided the most poignant moment of the day just hours after Mr and Mrs Clinton arrived in Northern Ireland.

Catherine Hamill was one of two children - one Protestant and one Catholic - chosen to read a message to Mr Clinton before his address workers at a non-sectarian Mackies Metal Works in West Belfast.

She recalled the time her father, Patrick, had been shot dead by the Ulster Freedom Fighters in 1987.

She told an audience of 500 guests: “My first daddy died in the Troubles. It was the saddest day of my life. I still think of him.

“Now it’s nice and peaceful. I like having peace and quiet for a change instead of people shooting and killing. My Christmas wish is that peace and love will last in Ireland for ever.”

Clearly moved, the president made his speech urging both sides in Northern Ireland to maintain the 15-month-old ceasefire through continued dialogue.

Unionist politicians who believe he is biased towards Catholics will have been pleased to hear him condemning “punishment beatings”.

On their way from Aldergrove airport Bill and Hillary Clinton had stopped the motorcade to for what seemed to be an impromptu bit of shopping at Violet Clarke’s grocery shop in the Protestant Shankill Road.

Later, in the Catholic Falls Road, the couple “happened” to meet Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams when they popped out of their limousine to visit McErlean’s bakery.

Swamped by local wellwishers, the world’s press failed to capture the public hand-shake between the US president and the leader of an organisation that many believe is the political wing of the IRA. It was a passerby who snapped the moment that was then broadcast around the world.

The president met Mr Adams again for a 20-minute meeting in Belfast tonight. He is said to have been encouraged by his talk with Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble, but less so with the Rev Ian Paisley of the Democratic Unionists.

He had urged all three to use a “twin-track” process to talk through their differences.

In Context

The president’s visit to Northern Ireland was regarded as a great success with politicians of both sides praising his even-handed and sensitive approach.

Only two months later hopes for a lasting peace were shattered when the IRA broke its ceasefire by bombing London’s Docklands on 10 February 1996.

The IRA announced a new ceasefire in July 1997 but negotiations and sporadic violence continued until the Good Friday peace agreement was signed in May 1998.

The problems of decommissioning persisted despite the IRA’s more relaxed stance over time which resulted in the opening up of some of its arms dumps to international inspectors.

In July 2005 the IRA declared an end to its armed struggle and two months later the decommissioning body announced the IRA had destroyed all its weapons.

President Clinton was re-elected to office a year after his Ireland visit. His presidency ended in 2001.

BreakingNews.ie

29/11/2005 - 18:05:45

Relatives of the victims of the Omagh bombings today said they had received assurances from British Prime Minister Tony Blair that no one connected with the 1998 atrocity would be granted an amnesty, even if they are members of Sinn Féin or the IRA.

Representatives of the 29 victims and those injured in the blast held talks lasting 45 minutes with Mr Blair at 10 Downing Street to press their case for a full cross-border public inquiry.

Speaking after the talks, they said that Mr Blair had told them an inquiry would be impossible until current civil and criminal court cases arising from the blast were completed, but did not rule out meeting their request after that point.

Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden, 21, was killed in the no-warning attack, said Mr Blair had been “very supportive and as helpful as he could have been”.

But he said Mr Blair did not seem to be “up to speed” with some details of the inquiry - something that was acceptable, given the complexity of the case.

He said Mr Blair had offered the assistance of a senior civil servant to help the families with their work and had promised to look at a dossier which they had prepared making the case for an inquiry.

One man is currently facing charges in connection with the Co Tyrone blast, which resulted in the largest single loss of life of the Troubles.

But the trial of Sean Hoey (aged 36) of Jonesborough, Co Armagh, is unlikely to go ahead until well into next year.

BreakingNews.ie

…and if he can do this, I’m also for going after my ma as she will give me a great weather forecast at night on the phone and when I get up in the morning, it’s all shite :p

29/11/2005 - 18:11:52

The Chairman of North West Tourism, Sean McEniff, said today he is considering taking legal action against Met Éireann over what he claimed to be inaccurate weather forecasts.

Mr McEniff claimed that a conference in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, was cancelled as a result of Met Éireann predicting snow storms and icy conditions for the region.

He said a second conference was also affected, while many people who had booked hotel rooms cancelled their reservations.

BBC

Relatives of the Omagh bomb victims are seeking a judicial inquiry

No-one involved in the 1998 Omagh bomb will benefit from an amnesty, the families of the victims have said.

The relatives were speaking after asking Prime Minister Tony Blair for a cross-border judicial inquiry into the bombing, which claimed 29 lives.

Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden died in the Real IRA attack, said Mr Blair told them any inquiry would have to follow criminal and civil cases.

“Omagh is such that people can’t keep the lid on it forever,” he said.

“We will eventually know the truth - but I would like to know it in my lifetime.”

Victor Barker, whose son James died in the attack, said they had been assured no-one, including any IRA or Sinn Fein member, involved in the periphery of the bombing would benefit from any amnesty.

‘Weary’

“That would include members of Sinn Fein who may or may not have had knowledge of the Omagh bomb or were involved on the periphery of the bomb - even though they are members of Sinn Fein they would not receive amnesty,” Mr Barker said.

However, Mr Gallagher said that while he did not feel Mr Blair understood all the complexities of the bombing they felt they had received a fair hearing.

“There are certain undertakings that the prime minister gave this afternoon and we will hold him to and I have no doubt that he will carry them through,” he said.

He said that they were “weary” after seven years of campaigning, but that they would continue.

“I feel that some of the people close to the prime minister have been a bit naive in how they have handled the Omagh bomb and they have underestimated the Omagh families’ determination to get to the truth,” he said.