Republican News · Thursday 10 October 2002

Ógra SF defiant after bomb hoax

Sinn Féin councillor Barney McAleer says that a hoax bomb device left outside premises in Omagh being used for an Ógra Sinn Féin function on Saturday night was intended to disrupt the continued growth of Sinn Féin's youth organisation.

Between 300-400 young people were attending the function at Molly Sweeneys when the device was found. It was a lunch box fitted with a timing device that was ticking. No one could be sure if the device was real, so as a precaution everyone was evacuated to the front of the building.

"The device, an elaborate hoax, was safely dealt with by local people and everyone returned to the function.

McAleer questioned how, given that Molly Sweeney's is located straight across the road from Lisanelly British Military base, and there is an array of cameras pointed in the direction of the premises, anyone could have placed an object at the rear of the premises without being filmed.