Fermanagh and Omagh Council condemns shooting

A MOTION to Fermanagh and Omagh Council condemning the shooting of Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) John Caldwell and expressing ‘full and unequivocal support’ for the PSNI has been passed.

The motion was proposed by the Ulster Unionist councillor, Matthew Bell, who said the people of the town would not be dragged back to the days of violence by the gunmen.

Born in 1999, he said he had never known the impact of the Troubles, but wanted to make it clear that the people of the town did not want to go back.

Omagh town Sinn Fein councillor, Patrick Withers, said he had been at Youth Sport on the night as a member of Omagh Harriers. He encouraged all those who may have been traumatised by what happened to seek help.

Alliance councillor, Stephen Donnelly, said he had been at the Hospital Road Community Centre when news of the shooting was coming through.

“It just so happened that I was back engaging with residents on the Hospital Road this week, when I was talking to one woman, who, with tangible frustration made the point that every time the cameras of the world turn to Omagh, they rarely get to see the real Omagh; who it is we truly are as a community.”

But, independent councillor, Emmett McAleer, accused the UUP of ‘electioneering’ by forwarding the motion. While he said the shooting was ‘appalling’, the independent said he could not express support for the PSNI, due to their record of ‘incompetence, sexism, institutional racism, sectarianism and homophobia’.