Call for removal of republican banner

Call for removal of republican banner

5 August 2020

A CALL to remove a banner in Drumaness opposing the extradition of alleged Omagh bomber Liam Campbell from the Republic of Ireland has been made by Slieve Croob councillor Alan Lewis.

The Ulster Unionist councillor Alan Lewis said he was “shocked but not surprised” at the display of a banner opposing Campbell’s court-ordered extradition to Lithuania. 

Campbell, from Dundalk, was found by the High Court in Belfast to have been civilly liable for the Omagh car bombing carried out by the Real IRA in 1998 which killed 29 people and two unborn babies.

Talking about the “devastating loss of life” on August 15, 22 years go, Cllr Lewis said: “The bomb was claimed by dissident republicans, the Real IRA, a group opposed to the peace process and supposedly opposed to Sinn Féin. Where are Sinn Féin today? Their councillors on Fermanagh and Omagh council supported a motion to stop the extradition of the man found libel for that very bomb.

“Those opposing extradition refer to the human rights of Liam Campbell but pay no regard to the rights of the 29 people and two unborn children who were murdered on the streets of Omagh in 1998. The mask of equality slip when republicans circle the wagons to protect one of their own. “Those who erected this banner are guilty of shameful opportunistic blind support for terrorism.”

The councillor branded supporters of Campbell as “sad pathetic individuals” and added: “Sinn Féin tell us they are leaders of the republican community, complicit or turning a blind eye? Where is the MP Chris Hazard or MLA Emma Rogan? Complicit or turning a blind eye? Show some leadership, get this sickening banner removed.”

However, the Sinn Féin MP for South Down, Mr Chris Hazzard, responded to the councillor’s comments by repeating his party’s condemnation of the Omagh bombing.

He said: “Sinn Féin have highlighted our concerns about the human rights of Liam Campbell. 

“In doing so we also reiterated our total and utter condemnation of the Omagh bombing, our support for the victims and their families and our resolve to see those responsible being held accountable in a judicial and legal process.”