Omagh victim's father: Bombers will not blame police
A man whose son was among the 29 who died in the Omagh bombing has said that the perpetrators would now blame police for the loss of life.
Victor Barker, whose 12-year-old son James was among the 29 killed at Omagh said: ‘‘I don’t blame the security forces for my son’s murder, but I’m disgusted that they didn’t act.’’
‘‘They didn’t plant the bomb, but this is going to get used by the Real IRA to claim police knew about it and were therefore responsible.
‘‘That’s not what any right thinking human being can accept.’’
The Surrey-based solicitor added that his wife, Donna-Maria, would be devastated by the news.
‘‘This is going to set her right back,’’ he said.
Father Kevin Mullan, a priest who comforted the victims’ families in the aftermath of the attack, told of his efforts to comfort relatives shocked by the findings.
‘‘The people in Omagh are going to feel that the lives of their relatives were of perhaps less value than other so-called principles or policies, and that is very, very hurtful,’’ he said.
‘‘In the face of Christmas when they are thinking of those who should be there now, the possibility arises that they could have been there - this is what’s being said today.
‘‘If only something had been done we mightn’t have been visiting a grave or sitting at the Christmas table with somebody missing.’’
