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DATE=8/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237203
TITLE=NORTHERN IRELAND (L)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  POLICE IN NORTHERN IRELAND HAVE DETAINED FIVE SUSPECTS 
AND OFFICIALS FROM BELFAST AND DUBLIN ARE JOINING FORCES TO 
INVESTIGATE WHO IS BEHIND THE BOMB BLAST THAT KILLED AT LEAST 28 
PEOPLE IN NORTHERN IRELAND ON SATURDAY.  V-O-A CORERSPONDENT 
LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON.
TEXT:  ONE OF THE FIVE SUSPECTS IN CUSTODY IS THE TEENAGE SON OF 
A LEADING MEMBER OF THE ALLEGED POLITICAL WING OF A DISSIDENT 
REPUBLICAN GROUP KNOWN AS THE REAL I-R-A.  THE GROUP HAS DENIED 
ANY LINKS TO THE TERRORIST ATTACK BUT POLITICIANS BLAME THE REAL 
I-R-A FOR THE BOMBING.
THE SUSPECTS WERE PICKED UP IN AN EARLY MORNING RAID ON MONDAY.  
THEY CAN BE HELD UP TO ONE WEEK BEFORE BEING CHARGED OR RELEASED.
POLICE OFFICIALS FROM BELFAST AND DUBLIN SAY THEY WILL POOL THEIR
RESOURCES IN THE INVESTIGATION AND IN TIGHTENING SECURITY ACROSS 
THE ISLAND.
A CABINET MEMBER FROM THE IRISH REPUBLIC, MARY O'ROURKE, TOLD 
BRITISH RADIO THAT A TRAGEDY LIKE THE OMAGH BOMBING WAS  NOT  
TOTALLY UNEXPECTED AFTER THE SIGNING OF THE GOOD FRIDAY PEACE 
AGREEMENT LAST APRIL. 
                     ///  O'ROURKE ACT  ///
         THERE HAVE BEEN HAVE BEEN MANY OCCASIONS IN THE LAST 
         NUMBER OF WEEKS AND MONTHS IN WHICH THE EFFORTS OF THIS 
         SO-CALLED SPLINTER GROUPS HAVE BEEN THWARTED.  BUT OUR 
         CONSTANT DREAD AND FEAR WAS THAT ONE OF THEIR EFFORTS 
         WOULDN'T BE THWARTED NO MATTER WHAT THE BEST EFFORTS OF 
         THE SECURITY FORCES.
                        ///  END ACT  ///
POLICE IN OMAGH HAD RECEIVED A MISLEADING TELEPHONE WARNING ABOUT
45 MINUTES BEFORE THE EXPLOSION.  IT LED THEM TO EVACUATE 
BYSTANDERS TOWARD THE BOMB RATHER THAN AWAY FROM IT.
IN OMAGH, RESIDENTS ARE STILL TRYING TO MAKE SOME SENSE OF THE 
TRAGEDY.  FLOWERS HAVE BEEN LEFT NEAR THE BOMB SITE, SOME WITH 
SIMPLE NOTES THAT ASK WHY OR WHAT PRICE PEACE. 
BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR MADE A QUICK TRIP TO THE MARKET
TOWN AND TO BELFAST TO CONSULT WITH LEADERS THERE.  HE INSISTS 
THE PEACE PROCESS MUST  NOT  BE DERAILED BY THE WEEKEND TRAGEDY. 
THE BRITISH AND IRISH GOVERNMENTS NOW ARE ALSO LOOKING AT CHANGES
IN SECURITY MEASURES TO TRY TO PREVENT MORE TERRORIST ATTACKS.  
(SIGNED)
NEB/LK/JWH/KL
17-Aug-98 12:00 PM EDT (1600 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.