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Thousands walk for peace in Omagh, Northern Ireland

10,000 take part in Omagh peace march

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Tuesday, April 19, 2011, 5:47 PM

Updated Tuesday, April 19, 2011, 5:47 PM

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Thousand march for peace in Omagh

Photo by Irish Times

Read more: Northern Ireland determined that murder will not destabilize peace

The message from Omagh to the Dissidents was clear – Give Peace A Chance.

Up to 10,000 people took part in a peace march in the Tyrone town on Sunday, just a week after Catholic police officer Ronan Kerr was murdered.

The event was organised on Facebook by 29-year-old Gareth McElduff, a cancer charity fundraiser in the town.

“It was done in the early hours of last Sunday morning, just out of anger at what happened to Ronan,” explained McElduff.

“When I checked it that Sunday night there were nearly 1,000 people saying they would attend. There was no going back after that.

“The walk and the number of people who turned up said everything that needed to be said.”

Many of those who walked held posters with Ronan Kerr’s face and a message: “Not In My Name” while others wore white ribbons.

A colleague of the murdered police officer told the Irish Times: “It’s bad to have to be back at this type of thing again but it’s good to see this.”

Also present was Michael Gallagher whose son Aidan was one of 29 people killed by the Real IRA in Omagh in 1998.

Local Sinn Féin MP Pat Doherty, party colleague Barry McElduff, Alliance Minister of Justice David Ford and local SDLP representative Joe Byrne also marched.

Nster.com

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bunkerisland | Aug 25, 2011, 02:15 PM EDT

For those of us not familiar with the details of the tragic event in Omagh a film with Gerald McSorley in the role of Michael Gallagher, the bereaved father of Aidan is a powerful chronicle of the effort of Mr. Gallagher and the community seeking justice. The senseless killing of innocent victims, people who were going about their business in the downtown brought horror to all yet those responsible remain free. 10,000 people in a Peace March is a powerful thing.

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warrenpoint00 | Apr 11, 2011, 08:32 PM EDT

P.S young men of Ireland. There is enough murder going on in the world.British terrorist are bombing thousands of innocent men women and children in Afganistan and Libya.What makes you think you should be like them, what makes you think your cause will be justified by killing a young catholic Irishman.

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warrenpoint00 | Apr 11, 2011, 08:22 PM EDT

I agree sirpeter, down with your guns lads and use your pen.You may be surprised at the reaction you may get at the ballot box if you have a political agenda toward the re unification of Ireland.

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barneyjo | Apr 11, 2011, 07:58 PM EDT

Sorry, my last post should have read "Would-be Republican Zealots"

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barneyjo | Apr 11, 2011, 07:52 PM EDT

@anybody - so thats another 10,000 approximately in addition to the 8000 Gaels all of whom have shown their clear opposition to the murder of Ronan Kerr. What do the Republican zealots among us make of that I wonder?

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gerrymc13 | Apr 11, 2011, 12:07 PM EDT

The IRA listened to the Irish people in 1997, when are the so called dissedents gonna get the message. " NO MORE WAR!"

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clevelander | Apr 11, 2011, 11:52 AM EDT

If I thought for 1 minute that a politician or politics would bring about a United Ireland, I would jump in head first. But it won't. It has been tried and tried again. And failed.

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johnymac60 | Apr 11, 2011, 11:07 AM EDT

I would have marched with you folks, had I been there. Time to move on. Give peace a chance.

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pilib04 | Apr 11, 2011, 10:47 AM EDT

The "dissidents" should follow the lead of the Irish Republican Army, disband, disarm and get involved in the politcal framework leading to a united Ireland.

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sirpeter | Apr 11, 2011, 09:45 AM EDT

Time to put down the guns lads.It's ballot box time again.You know your history. A United Ireland will come,just be patient.

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