Council motion in support of Omagh bomb victims passed

A COUNCIL motion in contrast with the controversial proposal earlier this month calling for support against the extradition of Liam Campbell has been passed.

A new motion expressing solidarity with the victims of the Omagh bombing, which took place on 15th August 1998 and their continuing efforts for justice was passed at tonight’s council meeting.

The motion which was proposed by Cllr Victor Warrington and seconded by Cllr Allan Rainey stated, “This council notes that Mr Liam Campbell was found civilly liable of this atrocity and is subject to extradition proceedings in the Republic of Ireland on separate terrorism charges. The publicity surrounding this process has caused further pain and anguish amongst the victims and their relatives.

“In consequence of this, we propose that this council writes to the offices of an Taoiseach to speedily resolve this process owing to the effect that this is having on the people directly impacted locally.”

Seconding the motion tonight (Thursday), Cllr Allan Rainey asked members to support the motion and said the Omagh bomb was one of the worst human right violations which took place in the county town.

A number of amendments were proposed for the motion but majority were found admissible while SDLP Cllr Adam Gannon’s amendment was voted against by members.

Cllr Warrington’s motion was passed as 20 councillors voted in favour of the motion, five voted against and 15 councillors abstained.

Sinn Fein councillors and a number of independent councillors abstained from voting.

The original motion which opposed the extradition of Liam Campbell from Dundalk, one of the men found liable for the Omagh bomb, was returned to committee and will be discussed again when council return in September.

Campbell is wanted in Lithuania over allegations he was part of an operation to buy guns and bombs for the Real IRA.

The controversial motion which opposed his extradition was brought before the monthly Policy and Resources Committee meeting on July 8 by Councillor Bernice Swift. Cllr Swift brought the motion ‘under human rights’ and the motion caused upset to those impacted by the Omagh bomb.

The vote for the original motion came in at 23 in favour, 14 against, with one abstention.