N. IRELAND: MO MOWLAM REJECTS THE REAL IRA APOLOGY скачать в хорошем качестве

N. IRELAND: MO MOWLAM REJECTS THE REAL IRA APOLOGY

(18 Aug 1998) English/Nat Britain's top official in Northern Ireland has rejected an apology by the 'Real I-R-A' for Saturday's blast in Omagh. Britain's Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mo Mowlam, dismissed the apology as a 'pathetic attempt to apologise for and excuse mass murder.' The 'Real I-R-A,' a splinter Republican group opposed to Northern Ireland's peace accord, claimed responsibility on Tuesday for the bombing that killed 28 people and injured 220. Mo Mowlam - accompanying Prince Charles on a visit to the shattered town of Omagh when the claim of responsibility was made -- was swift to condemn those responsible. She dismissed the claims by the 'Real I-R-A,' which admitted to carrying out the bombing, that the death of so many innocent people was unintended. Britain's Northern Ireland Secretary, who was instrumental in achieving the Good Friday Agreement earlier this year, said it was contemptible and an insult to the people of Omagh. She vowed that the British and Irish governments would do all they could to hunt down those responsible for the terrorists attack. SOUNDBITE: (English) "In response to this statement I would just like to say that I think it's a pathetic attempt at an excuse for mass murder, I think it's contemptible and I think it's an insult to the people of Omagh who have done so much in the past days to try and overcome some of the worst ravages that the bomb has created. The sole responsibility lies with the bombers and we and the Irish government will continue to do all we can to hunt them down. I am now going to go back in to join Prince Charles to visit the injured, thank you very much." SUPER CAPTION: Mo Mowlam, Northern Ireland Secretary The 'Real I-R-A' claimed responsibility in a statement to the Dublin office of a Northern Ireland newspaper, Irish News, using a recognised codeword. The group, comprised of defectors from the Irish Republican Army, is opposed to April's peace agreement which provides for power-sharing between Protestants and Catholics. News media said the group's claim appeared authentic and reflected embarrassment by the group over the bombing's high death toll. Prince Charles, who visited some of the wounded in hospital, focused mainly on the tireless efforts of medics and emergency services. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I just had a very special visit to the hospital here and I was delighted to have the opportunity of meeting all the marvellous staff here and the doctors and the nurses and all the support staff who I know make such a difference to handling tragedies such as happened at the weekend and I was also delighted to be able to meet some of the people who have survived their injuries and I am very glad to see that they are improving very rapidly and being looked after so beautifully. I also, obviously wish to pass on my deepest condolences to all those relatives of people who so tragically lost their lives in this awful disaster." SUPER CAPTION: Prince Charles The Prince, whose great uncle Lord Mountbatten died in an I-R-A assassination in 1979, issued a plea for the violence to end. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Let us pray this time that it will be the end to all the horrors that poor Ireland has had to suffer." SUPER CAPTION: Prince Charles Whether or not the latest blast was in fact intended to target civilians is as yet unclear. In its statement, the 'Real I-R-A' asserted that it gave three warnings and had not meant to kill civilians. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...