ROW RAGES OVER 'TIP-OFF' GIVEN TO SPECIAL BRANCH
Row rages over 'tip-off'given to Special Branch
By David Gordon
A FURIOUS row was today raging over the Police Ombudsman's investigation into how RUC Special Branch dealt with an anonymous warning that an Omagh terror attack was planned for the day a Real IRA bomb killed 29 people.
Secretary of State, John Reid, hit out at the media frenzy surrounding what he called the "unfinished inquiry" by Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan.
And, amid clear signs of deep anger at the highest levels of the province's police service, senior security sources described as "nonsense" claims the RUC should have ring-fenced Omagh on the basis of the information.
The sources also rubbished claims the advance Omagh tip-off bore any relation to the Real IRA attack.
Relatives of those killed in the August 1998 blast today expressed anguish at claims Special Branch did not pass on an advance warning, received in an anonymous phone call 11 lays before the bombing. But a senior security source told the Belfast Telegraph: "The phone call was not about a bomb attack. It was an allegation that an attack was planned on the day, involving rifles and a rocket launcher.
"The warning mentioned certain individuals supposedly involved and the information turned out to be totally wrong, it was also about a supposed attack by the Continuity IRA, not the Real IRA.
"People are now claiming that police, on the basis of bogus information, should have ring-fenced Omagh, which is nonsense."
Michael Gallagher - whose 21-year-old son Aidan died - said: "We will be made victims a second time round if it is shown to be true that a shoddy investigation was carried out." Mr Gallagher said a public inquiry may be needed, but the controversy should not allow attention to be taken away from the Real IRA. "We will not allow this to take the focus away from those who planted the bomb," he said.
The Office of the Police Ombudsman denied being the source of the leak.
It is believed Mrs O'Loan is planning to publish her report next week. She will be making no public comment on the matter in advance.
Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, last week received a draft copy of the document.
The Special Branch's alleged failure to inform senior local commanders of a warning of an attack on the day of bomb is themost serious accusation. However, a number of flaws in the investigation have also been identified in a review carried out by a team of RUC officers which was examined by the Ombudsman as part of preparations for her report.
It has been claimed there was confusion at leadership level, inadequate resources, inexperienced staff, and insufficient exchange of information with police in the Irish Republic. The Police Service has asked for the final report's publication to be delayed to give it more time to respond.
It has also strongly criticised the findings of the draft document. A spokesman said: "We consider this report contains so much significant factual inaccuracies, unwarranted assumptions, misunderstandings and material omissions that a request has been made to the Ombudsman's office for a reasonable period of time to respond in detail with what we see as the serious deficiencies."
Mr John Reid today said the growing row about the contents of the Ombudsman's document was "not helpful".
"It has been reported inaccurately and it has been politicised by people who have not even seen the report," he said.
Dr Reid added: "It's contrary to natural justice to base our decisions and discussions on an inquiry that's not finished."
Political reaction has been predictably mixed. Unionists criticised both the content and leaking of the draft report, while Sinn Fein called for Special Branch's disbandment. The Police Federation, representing rank-and-file officers, has called on Mrs O'Loan to "consider her position".
By David Gordon
A FURIOUS row was today raging over the Police Ombudsman's investigation into how RUC Special Branch dealt with an anonymous warning that an Omagh terror attack was planned for the day a Real IRA bomb killed 29 people.
Secretary of State, John Reid, hit out at the media frenzy surrounding what he called the "unfinished inquiry" by Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan.
And, amid clear signs of deep anger at the highest levels of the province's police service, senior security sources described as "nonsense" claims the RUC should have ring-fenced Omagh on the basis of the information.
The sources also rubbished claims the advance Omagh tip-off bore any relation to the Real IRA attack.
Relatives of those killed in the August 1998 blast today expressed anguish at claims Special Branch did not pass on an advance warning, received in an anonymous phone call 11 lays before the bombing. But a senior security source told the Belfast Telegraph: "The phone call was not about a bomb attack. It was an allegation that an attack was planned on the day, involving rifles and a rocket launcher.
"The warning mentioned certain individuals supposedly involved and the information turned out to be totally wrong, it was also about a supposed attack by the Continuity IRA, not the Real IRA.
"People are now claiming that police, on the basis of bogus information, should have ring-fenced Omagh, which is nonsense."
Michael Gallagher - whose 21-year-old son Aidan died - said: "We will be made victims a second time round if it is shown to be true that a shoddy investigation was carried out." Mr Gallagher said a public inquiry may be needed, but the controversy should not allow attention to be taken away from the Real IRA. "We will not allow this to take the focus away from those who planted the bomb," he said.
The Office of the Police Ombudsman denied being the source of the leak.
It is believed Mrs O'Loan is planning to publish her report next week. She will be making no public comment on the matter in advance.
Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, last week received a draft copy of the document.
The Special Branch's alleged failure to inform senior local commanders of a warning of an attack on the day of bomb is themost serious accusation. However, a number of flaws in the investigation have also been identified in a review carried out by a team of RUC officers which was examined by the Ombudsman as part of preparations for her report.
It has been claimed there was confusion at leadership level, inadequate resources, inexperienced staff, and insufficient exchange of information with police in the Irish Republic. The Police Service has asked for the final report's publication to be delayed to give it more time to respond.
It has also strongly criticised the findings of the draft document. A spokesman said: "We consider this report contains so much significant factual inaccuracies, unwarranted assumptions, misunderstandings and material omissions that a request has been made to the Ombudsman's office for a reasonable period of time to respond in detail with what we see as the serious deficiencies."
Mr John Reid today said the growing row about the contents of the Ombudsman's document was "not helpful".
"It has been reported inaccurately and it has been politicised by people who have not even seen the report," he said.
Dr Reid added: "It's contrary to natural justice to base our decisions and discussions on an inquiry that's not finished."
Political reaction has been predictably mixed. Unionists criticised both the content and leaking of the draft report, while Sinn Fein called for Special Branch's disbandment. The Police Federation, representing rank-and-file officers, has called on Mrs O'Loan to "consider her position".
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0794
Published Date: 07-Dec-01
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