He also rejected opposition claims that the extended powers of the Offences Against the State Act had not been used. The Irish minister paid tribute to police efforts on both sides of the Irish border since the bombing. In bombing Omagh, and in their other violent acts, the so-called Real IRA has pitted itself against the will of the Irish people. The Omagh bombers and their supporters regard themselves as a higher authority than the Irish people themselves. They believe their stream of politics to be pure and untainted by compromise, but it is poisoned by hatred.
Nothing can flow from it but death and destruction.
Meanwhile, chairman of the BBC Sir Christopher Bland has supported the decision to show last week's Panorama programme. Exclusion motion Gun attack on bar Links to more Northern Ireland stories are at the foot of the page.