Sir, - Like the vast majority of the people on this island, I am shocked and horrified by the bomb which shattered the lives of so many people in Omagh. I simply cannot begin to understand the mentality of anyone who could perpetrate such an act. Hundreds of people had gathered together in a carnival atmosphere on one of the busiest shopping days of the year and, in one devastating moment, their lives were changed forever. But the most distressing fact of all is that so many were killed and injured because the police were given inaccurate information about the precise location of the device.
As individuals and as a nation, we are outraged by this senseless waste of human life. There is so little that we can say or do, except to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Northern Ireland in their time of grief, and to join hands with them in fresh determination to build a new future for everyone on this island.
The Taoiseach has shown great courage and determination by vowing to hunt down the killers and crush their organisation. The Government must now act speedily and decisively to prevent further loss of life; and they must use any and every lawful means available to remove the threat which now faces us all. I believe they will have the strong support of a majority for whatever measures they take.
For my part, I can say only this to the twisted "idealists" who have shattered the lives of so many. You do not represent the people of this island, nor any cause in which we believe. You will never succeed by intimidating innocent people who refuse to bend to your will, or by murdering and maiming those who have committed themselves to building a peaceful future. Your time is past. - Yours, etc., Kealan Flynn,
Rockfield, Maynooth,
Co Kildare.