Sir, - I find it hard to describe how I felt on hearing the news of the appalling loss of life in Omagh. The feelings of despair and the sense of loss brought me to tears while watching the pictures of the carnage unfold on the television. God knows what it must have been like to be in the middle of such horror. Can you ever get over such a thing? Certainly, my prayers and thoughts are with the families of the dead and the injured.
I hope we never forget the consequences of such a wanton act of evil and I hope that the British and Irish governments unite to bring the perpetrators of this crime against humanity to justice. I also think the IRA have a part to play in this process, not by taking it on themselves to punish the "Real IRA", but by having the courage to use this opportunity to start decommissioning and to provide the security forces with whatever information they can.
I am aware that the word "informer" will come into the minds of some, but let us put things in perspective: there is no way that this act could conceivably contribute to a united Ireland; this was a crime against society itself. Is this what those in the old IRA died for? Is this freedom-fighting? I don't think so, and I would urge those who have the ear of today's IRA, in particular Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, to do all in their power to continue the work towards a peaceful settlement by helping to bring those responsible to justice. - Yours, etc., Keith Troughton,
Santry, Dublin 9.