17 July 1997 Edition
O'Neill campaign launched
A campaign has been launched to secure a full independent public inquiry into the shooting of IRA Volunteer Diarmuid O'Neill in London in September 1996.
The O'Neill family, in conjunction with Irish community and human rights groups initiated a postcard campaign on 15 July demanding Home Secretary Jack Straw arrange a public, independent inquiry,
Campaigners say they have no faith in the present inquiry under the Police Complaints Authority as one of the officers in the inquiry was involved in the incident last year when Diarmuid O'Neill was shot dead by British police.
The O'Neill family and friends say they want a public inquiry as a way of getting to the truth of the incident and maintain they are no closer ``to knowing the truth behind the police actions and the barrage of lies produced by the media'' in the aftermath of last year's shooting. Unofficial statements claimed there was a gun battle between Diarmuid and the police, that explosives were found in the flat where he was staying and that Diarmuid was wanted for the Canary Wharf bombing. All these statements have been refuted.
The O'Neill family, in conjunction with Irish community and human rights groups initiated a postcard campaign on 15 July demanding Home Secretary Jack Straw arrange a public, independent inquiry,
Campaigners say they have no faith in the present inquiry under the Police Complaints Authority as one of the officers in the inquiry was involved in the incident last year when Diarmuid O'Neill was shot dead by British police.
The O'Neill family and friends say they want a public inquiry as a way of getting to the truth of the incident and maintain they are no closer ``to knowing the truth behind the police actions and the barrage of lies produced by the media'' in the aftermath of last year's shooting. Unofficial statements claimed there was a gun battle between Diarmuid and the police, that explosives were found in the flat where he was staying and that Diarmuid was wanted for the Canary Wharf bombing. All these statements have been refuted.