Remembering Omagh Ten Years On

It was my honour to this afternoon represent the British Government at the 10th anniversary Omagh bomb commemorative service.

Today people in Omagh and across the world remember the terrible atrocity which took the lives of twenty nine innocent people and two children yet unborn.

The events of August 15th 1998 will forever be indelibly marked in the minds and hearts of all decent people.

From the moment their murder happened, we have wanted to show their families and friends that we were at one with them.

Nothing will undo the pain and suffering of those who had been so savagely hurt.

The deep contrast could not be more stark between the innocence of those who were killed and injured with the guilty actions of the cowardly RIRA, which perpetrated the atrocity.

And the dignity and courage of the families and friends of those who were murdered has, with the towering response of the people of Omagh, shown the world that terrorism has no place in a decent world.

The search to bring to justice those criminals behind the bomb still continues.

We all share in the pain and frustration which this particularly brings to the families of those whose lives were taken.

So today and across this weekend, it is truly fitting we remember the cruel events of ten years ago.

That we remember everyone who was killed or hurt. That we honour their memory. Today and always.