Thoughts on peace in Northern Ireland
History may well come to tell us that Friday 10th
April 1998 was an historic day in the history of the province of Northern
Ireland, the day that was the beginning of the end of the violence of the last
30 years, but the Omagh Bombing hasn't exactly given me confidence in the
Agreement. This bombing, carried out by the so-called "Real IRA" (they couldn't
even come up with an original name) has been the worst in the history of the
Northern Irish Troubles. I was working in Fermanagh on that terrible Saturday
and heard about it on the radio on the way home - passing through
Omagh. At that time, about 10 people were reported dead, by the time
that we got home, the number of dead was up to 21 and but it wasn't until the
next day that the final body count of 28 was revealed. 28 candles that have
been extinguished; 28 lights that will never shine again, with a 29th person dying
two weeks later from their injuries.
In my opinion, the most terrible thing in the atrocity was the murder of a
woman pregnant with twins. Two unborn children, innocent in the ways of
the world; two children who will never see the light of day; who will never
feel the sun and wind on their faces; who will never experience love.
Saturday 15th
August 1998 was truly a black day in the history of our Province.
The feeling that I had when I first heard the news was a deep sorrow mixed with
anger. In the hours following the bombing, I almost lost faith in human
nature itself. It made me think what evil people that there have to be amongst
us to carry out such an act. My horror deepened as it was revealed that the
bombers had misled the police into moving the public from the Courthouse area
into the town centre, where the bomb was. What sick minds could do such a
thing?
They do say that it is an ill wind that blows no good but the good in this is
buried very deep. It has been noted that Gerry Adams has utterly condemned the
act - the first time that a Republican has condemned an act carried out by a
Republican organisation in such terms. This could show just how isolated that
these fringe organisations are. Although I am loath to
say it, maybe an act like this was necessary to bring things to a head, maybe
this will be the turning point that is recorded in history, not the actual
Agreement itself. Only time will tell. On Saturday 22nd
August 1998 - exactly one week after the Omagh bombing - the INLA also
declared a ceasefire. In their declaration, they said that the decision
had been made before the bombing and is a result of the overwhelming desire of
the people of the island of Ireland for peace - as declared in the parallel
referenda in May.
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