Brave Omagh families help get the scales of justice back in balance

The Omagh families have succeeded in turning the tables on the terrorists by humanising their plight while dehumanising the Real IRA. The perpetrators were unable to paint their opponents in court as large oppressive forces hostile to humanity, or even civil liberties for that matter

BEFORE August 15, 1998, when asked to identify the worst atrocities of the Troubles, or simply to justify their positions, Northern Protestants would reel off Bloody Friday, the Shankill, the La Mon massacre, Warrenpoint or Enniskillen. Catholics pointed to Bloody Sunday, McGurk’s bar, Greysteel, Loughinisland or the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

It is inevitable – and right – that mass killings stick in communal memories. No one should be expected to forget, even if we are called on to forgive. Still, to see the Troubles as simply a series of “spectaculars” means we cannot see the wood for the trees because almost daily, at times, some mother’s son, some son’s mother was picked off for being the “wrong” religion, having the “wrong” views, being in the “wrong” place or doing the “wrong” job.