Peace rally held in Belfast as Dublin group announces its plan for Ceasefire Now Day

ABOUT 1,500 people attended a lunchtime rally outside Belfast City Hall yesterday to show their support for the peace process…

ABOUT 1,500 people attended a lunchtime rally outside Belfast City Hall yesterday to show their support for the peace process and their opposition to the IRA's decision to resume its campaign in Northern Ireland.

Two Sinn Fein councillors were present, plus a large delegation from the Ulster Democratic Party. The event was organised by Women Together, a cross- community organisation formed 25 years ago. The crowd held paper silhouettes to represent the victims of the Troubles.

A minute's silence was held for Warrant Officer James Bradwell who died from injuries suffered in the IRA bombing and for Darren Murray, the schoolboy who died after being knocked down by a van during sectarian clashes in Portadown, Co Armagh.

The choir of Hazelwood Integrated School sang Give Peace A Chance. Placards said "Stop the Killing" and "No to Bombings and Beatings". A huge banner read: "We Live Together or Die Together".

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One of the organisers of the rally, Ms Anne Carr, said: "We are just the ordinary people of Belfast but we are the fabric of our society. We want to express our revulsion at the IRA attack. We want an end to wanton sectarian violence, murder and mayhem."

The peace process must be restored, said Mr Mark Kelly, who lost his legs in a UVF bomb attack when he was 18. It was a time for ordinary people to be pro-active, not apathetic, he said. "We must let the government, politicians and warmongers know that we want peace, not war," he added.

Ms Nuala Noblett of Women Together described the IRA bomb as a "cruel and calculated act aimed at pushing us to the brink of civil unrest".

Sinn Fein councillors, Mr Era McCann and Mr Paddy McManus, made a brief, appearance at the rally.

Mr McCann said republicans wanted peace as much as everyone else. The motivation of most people at the demonstration was genuine, he said, but he questioned the timing of the event.

"Why was a rally not held when republicans were warning that the peace process was on shaky ground because of the British government's attitude? Why did thousands of people not come out into the city centre to protest about loyalist violence during Drumcree? These rallies always seem to end up being anti-republican."

The UDP leader, Mr Gary McMichael, said he hoped the rally would send a message to the IRA that there was no future in its military campaign.

The Lisburn bombing showed the IRA had no interest in peace and the action was designed to provoke loyalists, he said. However, he hoped loyalists would remain committed to their ceasefire and to a democratic settlement.

Meanwhile, the peace group which organised large public demonstrations earlier this year demanding an IRA ceasefire has called for a day of action in two weeks' time in response to the Lisburn bombing.

Solidarity to Organise Peace (STOP) yesterday declared Thursday, October 24th, "Ceasefire Now Day" and called on Irish people, north, south and abroad, to organise events to mark the day. "We will mobilise Irish people to demand of the IRA that they reinstate their ceasefire and do it now," according to Mr Paul Burton, the co-ordinator of STOP.

Mr Chris Hudson of the Peace Train organisation, said the day of action would have two messages: "That there is no support for the IRA campaign, and that the Irish people want the loyalists to hold their ceasefire."

The message the day's actions would send to loyalists in Northern Ireland is crucial, according to Mr Oliver Donohoe of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. "The IRA claims to speak on our behalf. If I was a kid growing up on the Shankill how would I know if that is true? We must show them that it is not true."

Mr Burton called on Irish people in workplaces, schools, colleges, homes, places of worship, sporting and community groups to organise events demanding a ceasefire.

He said they had not yet decided whether to hold a major rally or rallies on the day.

STOP had received messages of support from farming, fishing, sporting and cultural organisations. The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Connell, has also offered support, according to Mr Burton.

Other speakers at yesterday's press conference announcing details of the day were: Ms Maria Murphy of the National Parents' Council; Mr Dermot Mahon of the Network of Unemployed Centres; Mr Robert Grier of IBEC; Mr Kieran McLoughlin of the Ireland Funds; Mr Tony Kennedy, chief executive of Co-operation North; Dean Maurice Carey representing the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Walton Empey; and Dublin footballer, Mr Barney Rock.