February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Anne Cadwallader
BELFAST — A car bomb exploded in the center of the County Down village of Banbridge on Saturday — underlining the continuing violent capacity of dissident republican groups who oppose the peace process.
The 500-pound car bomb injured 35 people, two seriously, and badly damaged more than 20 shops, several of which may have to be demolished. Only 20 minutes of warning had been given to clear shoppers from the area.
It was claimed by a man who phoned the Irish News in Belfast speaking for “oglaigh na h’Eireann” and who used the same codeword as that was used to claim the bombing in Portadown on Feb. 23. The caller also said the group was responsible for planting incendiary bombs in Belfast.
It’s widely believed this group, known as the Real IRA, shares the same political ideology as the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, but it’s thought is also close to the Continuity Army Council linked to Republican Sinn Fein.
Mel Byrne, an SDLP councilor who was at the scene with his family, said it was “absolutely unbelievable” no one was killed.
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British Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam said it was “an evil act of terrorism” by people who had no respect for human life. She what she called the “cowardly” explosion.
“It is unclear,” she said, “who has perpetrated this terrorist attack, but if it has been carried out by a group not specified in the prisoner-release scheme, I take it very seriously indeed.”
Dara O’Hagan, the local Sinn Fein assemblywoman, called on those responsible to “cease their activities,” saying it only served those Unionist politicians who want to block progress.
David Trimble, the Ulster Unionist leader, has criticized what he says is Sinn Fein’s failure to condemn the bombing. Trimble, in whose constituency the bomb exploded, said it meant Sinn Fein could not be taken seriously in the peace process.
His deputy, John Taylor, called on the British and Irish governments to reflect on the bombing and the implications for Sinn Fein’s role in the peace process.
Sentence Review Commission
The British government has also announced the names of its Sentence Review Commission, which will be jointly chaired by ex-British civil servant, Sir John Blelloch, and South African civil rights lawyer Brian Currin.
Others include David Bolton (a social worker who has helped the victims of the Enniskillen bombing), Silvia Casale (an independent criminologist), Peter Curran (consulting psychiatrist), Ian Dunbar (ex-prison governor), Mary Gilpin (Scottish probation officer), Dr. Adrian Grounds (forensic psychiatrist).
They also include Clodagh McGrory (lawyer and daughter of veteran civil rights defender, P.J. McGrory) and Dave Wall (chief executive of the Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders).
Unionists were bitter about the Commission’s make-up, alleging it had no members sensitive to its concerns about early prison releases. Mowlam said its membership had been carefully selected to give balanced and professional skills.
Republican prisoners may be released from September onward, with several hundred due out by Christmas. Unionists are demanding greater concessions from republicans before any releases.
Meanwhile, the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland has delayed a debate over whether it should sever its institutional links with the Ulster Unionist Party.
Some members are unhappy at the constitutional linkage, saying they would prefer to support anti-Agreement politicians, but both sides say pressure of work has delayed an official debate on the matter.