Building better future key to moving away from dark past, say NI leaders

THE anniversary of the Omagh bombing should serve as a stark reminder of the need to build a future free from violence, DUP leader Arlene Foster has said.

Today marks 20 years since a Real IRA bomb exploded in the Co Tyrone town, killing 31 people, including a woman pregnant with twins.

It was the single biggest loss of life in the Troubles.

Speaking ahead of the anniversary, Mrs Foster said her thoughts were with those whose lives were “altered forever” on August 15, 1998.

“Families still grieve the loss of loved-ones while many other still bear the physical and mental scars today,” she said.

“The Omagh bomb stands as a stark reminder of those who would seek to drag Northern Ireland back into the terrorism which blighted Northern Ireland for so many years.

“The families, like so many others, still strive to see those responsible brought properly to justice for the murder of 31 innocent people.

“As we seek to build a better future, we must not forget those who have suffered at the hands of people whose only aim was to cause devastation and destruction.

“We must work to ensure that no future generations suffer the pain that terrorism dealt so indiscriminately upon people going about their business on a busy shopping street in Omagh,” the DUP leader added.

Sinn Fein deputy leader Michelle O’Neill said her thoughts would be with the victims’ families.

“The Omagh bomb was a devastating human tragedy. It will forever remain as a dark chapter in our history,” she said.

“Sadly much pain and hurt

DUP’s Arlene Foster and (right) Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill

has been caused over the years to many people.”

She stressed there is an “onus” on all political leaders here to

work towards a “better future” which doesn’t repeat the “lessons of our past”.

“There is a responsibility on political leaders to work together to heal the wounds of the past as the foundation for building a better future. We must work to build trust in each other.

“We must work to build bridges that we can cross,” she added.

“The horror and loss of the Omagh bombing cannot ever be forgotten.

“Collectively we owe it to all the victims of the conflict to build a truly reconciled society.”

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said the anniversary “reminds us that peace is worth protecting at all costs”.

“Twenty years on from the worst atrocity of our conflict — and despite politics failing to deliver for victims and their families — the resilience of Omagh provides us with the ultimate example that reconciliation and agreement in the face of adversity is always possible,” he said.

“I sincerely hope that today’s anniversary sends a stark message to all those holding up power-sharing in the north, that the obstacles we think we might face in politics, fly in the face of insignificance when it comes to the pain and hurt felt by all those affected by this brutal atrocity.”

The bomb detonated in a car parked in the middle of Omagh’s main street just after 3.10pm on August 15, 1998.

The dead included men, women and children — including three generations of one family.

No one has been convicted over the bombing.