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14/09/2012
Taoiseach Meeting Was 'Disappointing', Say Kingsmills Victims
Victims of the 1976 Kingsmills massacre were disappointed by their meeting with the Taoiseach yesterday, the News Letter has reported.
Enda Kenny invited 40 relatives of those shot in the South Armagh attack to Dublin for a historic meeting yesterday, but turned down their requests for an official apology.
He told the families that he could not apologise for the actions of the IRA, they claimed.
But the relatives' requests for an apology centred on the IRA’s use of the Republic of Ireland as a safe haven and hiding place.
Colin Worton, brother of Kenneth who died in the massacre, said before the meeting: "An IRA gang crept across the border and hid in a hedge waiting for them. Then they executed Kenneth and ran back across the border - and nobody said boo to them."
Stormont's regional development minister Danny Kennedy went to the meeting yesterday.
He said it was "very high on emotion" and there was "some disappointment".
Mr Kennedy said: "We still want the Taoiseach to reflect on the apology. We are clear that he is not being asked to apologise for the actions of the IRA. But we do believe there were failings both within the political and security systems that allowed events such as Kingsmills to take place and for that we think the Taoiseach should make a public acknowledgment and apology."
Victims campaigner Willie Frazer agreed, saying: "We are asking him to apologise for the lack of the ability of the Irish government in dealing with the IRA."
(NE)
Enda Kenny invited 40 relatives of those shot in the South Armagh attack to Dublin for a historic meeting yesterday, but turned down their requests for an official apology.
He told the families that he could not apologise for the actions of the IRA, they claimed.
But the relatives' requests for an apology centred on the IRA’s use of the Republic of Ireland as a safe haven and hiding place.
Colin Worton, brother of Kenneth who died in the massacre, said before the meeting: "An IRA gang crept across the border and hid in a hedge waiting for them. Then they executed Kenneth and ran back across the border - and nobody said boo to them."
Stormont's regional development minister Danny Kennedy went to the meeting yesterday.
He said it was "very high on emotion" and there was "some disappointment".
Mr Kennedy said: "We still want the Taoiseach to reflect on the apology. We are clear that he is not being asked to apologise for the actions of the IRA. But we do believe there were failings both within the political and security systems that allowed events such as Kingsmills to take place and for that we think the Taoiseach should make a public acknowledgment and apology."
Victims campaigner Willie Frazer agreed, saying: "We are asking him to apologise for the lack of the ability of the Irish government in dealing with the IRA."
(NE)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
