| GeoGods |
Posted
on 17-Jul-02 01:36 AM
IRA ISSUES APOLOGY FOR KILLING 'NON-COMBATANTS'
The IRA has apologised for the killing of all "non-combatants" who died during its campaign of terror. In an unprecedented statement, the republican group offered its "sincere apologies and condolences" to the families of victims during the 30 years of the Troubles. At the same time it said it acknowledged the grief and pain of the families of the combatants - police, soldiers and loyalist paramilitaries - killed during the violence. Records show the IRA killed nearly 1,800 people during its campaign, close on 650 of them civilians. The apology came ahead of the anniversary this week of one of the IRA's worst acts, the killing of nine people and injury of over 130 when terrorists blitzed Belfast with 27 bombs on the afternoon of July 21, 1972, - a day which became known as Bloody Friday. It is the first time the leadership of the terror organisation has offered a straight apology for any of its acts. In London, the initial reaction from Government sources was to give a guarded welcome to the IRA statement while stressing the need for the Good Friday Agreement to be implemented in full. Ulster Unionists said the IRA statement was not enough - they wanted more, including an assurance that the war was over. Lord Kilclooney, former party deputy leader John Taylor MP, said what the IRA said was "not sufficient". "It is not sympathy that Ulster Unionists want from the IRA but an assurance that the war is over."
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