2 September 1998

MEMBERS of Mayo VEC, at their monthly meeting in Belmullet stood for a minute of silent prayer to respect the memory of those killed in the Omagh bombing.

The minute's silence was proposed by Mr Sean Staunton after members had expressed their revulsion of the bombers and their action which resulted in twenty-eight dead and hundreds injured.

Mr Patrick Durcan proposed that the sympathy of the VEC go to the people of Omagh. It was fitting that public reprsentatives should again and again condemn the actions of those involved in the atrocity. He urged support for the actions of the Taoiseach Mr Ahern and the Prime Minister Tony Blair in their efforts to bring the bombers to justice and to cut off support for them. He had recently met an Ulster Unionist member and had got an amazing

insight into the unanimity that existed now for an end to violence and support for the peace process. He said everyone had a duty to seek to dissuade anyone they knew who might have a disposition towards the use of violence.

Mr Pat McHugh said it would take a long time for people to come to terms with the awfulness and the entent of the crime committed against the people of Omagh. The actions of the bombers defied any kind of logic and had to be condemned utterly.

He hoped the event would prove to be a watershed and that at long last everyone would be able to look forward to a brighter future.

Mr Padraic Walsh said as teachers and parents they could relate very much to the tragic incident which had seen the destruction of the lives of young people who were awaiting their exam results. Their hearts went out to those bereaved and the injured.

Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - September 1998