Dissident republicans attempt to bomb peace process

DISSIDENT republicans who left a huge van bomb near the centre of Belfast have attempted to undermine the Northern Ireland peace process just hours before party leaders met President Bush in the White House, it was claimed yesterday.

The massive fuel-type device with attached timer unit was abandoned outside the city’s main courthouse in a white Peugeot van, whose owner was hijacked and forced to drive the van there by three masked men. Army bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion.

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, SDLP leader Mark Durkan, Chief Constable Hugh Orde and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern were due to meet President Bush later the same day the bomb would have gone off.

Security chiefs believe the failed bombing was an attempt by republican opponents of the Good Friday Agreement to overshadow the St Patrick’s Day meeting at the White House.

President Bush was expected to urge all sides in Belfast to back British and Irish proposals to restore the power-sharing executive.

SDLP MLA Alban Maginness said dissident republicans carried out the bomb attack on the prestigious new Laganside Court complex in a bid to steal the limelight from the Washington meetings.

“It is an opportunist attack. They want to distract attention from the American visits and attract attention to themselves,” he said. “However, they have no attraction to any right thinking person.

“This is a reckless and inhumane act on the part of dissident republicans and I am quite certain of that.

“This action is a futile attempt by people who have no political mandate to disrupt, destabilise and destroy the Good Friday Agreement. They will not succeed.”

The attack was also condemned by Sinn Féin North Belfast councillor Eoin Ó Broin who said dissidents have no support within the wider republican constituency: “Attacks such as these serve no function other than to undermine the Agreement and strengthen the hand of those unionists who are opposed to change.”

DUP North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds said: “Those who are out in Washington pandering to the Sinn Féin agenda should instead be devoting their energies to protecting the innocent people back home on all sides who are still being threatened by terrorists.”

Detective Chief Inspector Will Kerr said the bomb could have maimed or killed anyone in its vicinity had it gone off.

“The van involved contained a viable device that could easily have gone off at any time without warning, causing serious injury to anyone who was in the area at the time,” he said. “I would condemn this incident and urge anyone who can assist the police in tracing those responsible or can help our inquiry in any way to contact detectives.” The multi-million pound Laganside Courthouse which houses Belfast’s Crown and Magistrates Court was recently opened by the Queen.