| The Wrong Weapon |
11 August 2003
|
British Government Gives Legal Support to Omagh Victims
The British government has decided to give £800,000 to the families of those murdered by the "Real IRA".
However, in an innovation for Britain, the money will be used to sue the convicted bombers. There is no
doubt that it is the right thing to do by the families, but it will blemish the legal system of the country by
pursuing political ends with legal means.
Almost five years ago, 29 people including a woman preganant with twins were killed by a bomb in
Omagh, Northern Ireland. Another 200 were hurt as republican rejectionists tried to derail the Good
Friday agreement. This was terrorism pure and simple, a violent, lethal act against a civilian population for
political ends. The perpetrators claimed to be the "Real IRA."
As the Kensington Review has said repeatedly, such acts should not be dealt with by the
machinery of the legal system because they are outside of it. The purpose of the bomb was not to kill a
particular person, but it was meant to kill several anonymous persons. The target was the society, not a
person. Suing a terrorist makes a mockery of the entire concept of the legal system.
A civil suit is a matter of dispute regarding property among civilized people. Ideally, it is a way of
diffusing a conflict before the issue results in criminal activity. More practically, it provides restitution for
a serious wrong. It is far too genteel a response to terrorism. The "Real IRA" are outlaws in the ancient
sense of the word, those beyond the law. They should be treated as such. While the survivors and the victims of the bombing deserve justice, a check from the killers is insulting.
Home