Minister Dermot Ahern expresses horror and outrage at bomb attacks in London

Dermot Ahern TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs, today expressed his horror and outrage at the bomb attacks on London.

The Minister said his thoughts and prayers were with the victims, their families and relatives. “This barbaric attack on innocent people underlines the futility of violence. Those who have suffered were ordinary people leading ordinary lives, going about their business. No cause can ever justify such a cowardly act.”

“I met with Northern Secretary Peter Hain today at Hillsborough and expressed, on behalf of the Irish people, our sincere sympathies with the British people on their loss. This outrage is felt keenly here as we have such strong ties with London. There is probably no family on the island of Ireland that does not know someone living or working in London. The locations attacked are landmarks for many Irish people, a home from home for so many.”

“I know there have been concerns from my talks with the Irish Embassy officials that the security services in Britain were on high alert for the last year or so. It is so difficult to make every counter terrorist measure totally effective.”

“I would ask anyone concerned about loved ones in London to use the Dublin emergency line. We established emergency lines as quickly as possible and our staff will remain on duty to provide every assistance”. 

“We have been in contact with the Police Authorities, with the Emergency services and with the main Irish Advice Centres. Our lines of communication will allow us to secure promptly any information about any Irish nationals involved in this atrocity. We will pass this on to concerned family and relatives as soon as possible.”

Note for Editors

An Emergency Centre has been set up in the Department of Foreign Affairs. The emergency phone number is    1800 242 548

An Emergency Centre has also been set up in the Irish Embassy in London for Irish citizens based in Britain. The Embassy's numbers for those citizens are:

0207 201 2508 or 0207 201 2501

ENDS+++
7 July 2005