16 January 1997 Edition

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Hoax bombs in Dungannon

DUNGANNON SINN FEIN COUNCILLOR Vincent Kelly has accused the RUC of ``showing a callous disregard for the lives of nationalist children'' after a second hoax bomb find in Dungannon on Wednesday morning 15 January.

A local man spotted the device, with wires attached, on the pathway leading up to Dungannon Naiscoil in Lisnahull and called the RUC but according to local people the RUC didn't evacuate the school on their arrival. According to Anthony Fox, himself targetted in a hoax bomb, and whose partner teaches at the Naiscoil, it was the parents of the pupils who brought the children to safety.

On Tuesday Fox discovered discovered a hold-all under his car in Dungannon. He told An Phoblacht that he examined and realised it was a hoax when he saw wires sticking out of it.

However, An Phoblacht has been told that a similiar device, in a hold-all, was found in the Ballyoran Park near the Garvaghy Road in Portadown also on Tuesday night. On Tuesday evening residents were moved to the GAA club as the crown forces moved in to examine the device. ``No-one heard a controlled explosion so it must have been cleared easily enough, but it's curious that all these hoax devices, similarly made up, were all planted on the same night,'' said our source.

An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland