THE IRA bombed Manchester in an attempt to destroy peace and shatter the talks process, the President of the European Parliament, Mr Klaus Hansch, maintained yesterday.
In a special statement at the opening of this month's possession of the parliament, Mr Hansch said it was "almost a miracle that hundreds of people were not killed.
"There is no possible or conceivable justification for the IRA bomb. The targets were ordinary men, women and children shopping on Saturday morning in a busy city. What possible cause could justify such barbarism?
"The aim of the bombers is clear to destroy peace. To shatter peace talks which have just begun in Belfast, following the courageous efforts of the two governments, the democratic political parties and the community of Northern Ireland."
Mr Hansch expressed sympathy on behalf of the European Parliament to those injured by the bomb. He was making his statement, he said, at the request of MEPs, including some from the Manchester area.
He said he was writing to the mayor of Manchester: "I am sure that I speak for the whole house when I say that the cause of peace must not be abandoned because of intimidation by terrorists. Terrorism can be defeated by the courage and steadfastness of communities and their leaders, to keep the peace process moving forward."
The British Labour MEP for Greater Manchester Central, Mr Eddy Newman, condemned the IRA for their despicable attack on innocent people, including children." The bombing was an attempt at mass murder, he maintained. The bombers should be brought to justice and Sinn Fein should "condemn and break with continued IRA terrorism".
Mr Niall Andrews thanked Mr Hansch for his statement. "The bombing was deplorable and unacceptable to 99 per cent of the Irish people. On behalf of the Fianna Fail members, I want to offer the deepest sympathy to the people of Manchester. The peace process continues to have the support of the Irish people," he said.
The Fine Gael MEPs have tabled a motion condemning the killing of Det Garda Jerry McCabe in Adare and the IRA bombing in Manchester.