No democratic society can welcome any abrogation of its civil liberties or any diminution of its citizens' safeguards under the law. It is sufficient to describe the package of measures announced by the Government in the aftermath of the Omagh massacre as unpalatable but necessary to deal with fascists who would impose their will by force. The people of this island voted overwhelmingly for peace on May 22nd last and it is the bounden duty of those in political authority to vindicate that choice. The proposed amendments are severe, representing the most serious extension to the State's emergency legislation since 1976 when IRA violence extended to the assassination of the British Ambassador and the murder and attempted murder of gardai. But it might be observed the steps now envisaged to deal with terrorism are merely coming into line with measures which were passed into law to deal with organised gangsterism after the murder of Veronica Guerin. This is not to minimise what is now proposed, but to underscore the extent to which the criminal law has hardened in defence of society.
There will be little political resistance to the proposals. Sections of public opinion indeed may judge them an inadequate and slow-moving response to the atrocity. But the Government is wise to resist the quick-fix option of internment which might yield the short-term satisfaction of seeing this murder gang put away for a time but which carries great risks in the longer term. A time could come when it might be necessary. But not now. Far better, if possible, that they be brought to trial and made to serve out their sentences under the criminal law.
That will require a co-ordinated and well resourced police operation, perhaps over a long time. The Garda and the RUC have deployed task forces to build up additional intelligence on the various splinter groups and a high-powered investigation team under a senior and highly-experienced RUC chief is investigating the murders. These measures must in no way be abated on foot of the declaration from the so-called `Real IRA' that it is to go on an `indefinite ceasefire'. There must be no scaling-down of activities once the immediate impact of this outrage has receded, either on grounds of cost or for reasons of political expediency. Those who bombed Omagh have placed themselves beyond the pale of mercy which is represented by the Belfast Agreement with its provisions for early release of convicted prisoners.
It will be necessary to recall the Dail and Seanad to pass the legislation which will be in effect within weeks. It is not too much to hope, in the intermediate future, when it has served its purpose and when the new democratic institutions of the Belfast Agreement are in place, that it may be rescinded. These powers are, as the Taoiseach has said, draconian. Police forces inevitably tend to push such powers to the limit and the past record in this State has not been unblemished. There must be a scrupulous adherence to the letter of the law and a firm resistance on the part of the authorities to any bending of the rules or to any infringements of the rights of persons in custody. In the meantime, the funerals go on, accompanied by outpourings of intense grief. All over Ireland, parishes and towns and streets are coming together to demonstrate their sorrow and their anger. On Saturday, the main Churches will mark the hour of the Omagh massacre with a silence. The State should follow where so many individuals and local organisations have led by making its own gesture with a day of national mourning. If it were to be matched with a similar initiative in Northern Ireland, it would make an unprecedented and powerful statement in support of the new sharing which was chosen by the people of the whole island of Ireland on May 22nd.