WHAT THE POLICE SAY
WHAT THE POLICE SAY
Watchdog must go demand angry officers
By Stephen Breen
ANGRY cops last night called for Ulster's Police Ombudsman to step down after it was claiming Special Branch knew terrorists were about to bomb Omagh. A leaked report from the Nuala O'Loan claimed high-ranking officers failed to act on a tip-off about a planned terrorist operation in the Co Tyrone town just 11 days before the devastating bombing on August 15, 1998.
And it has been claimed the un-der-fire Special Branch officers failed to alert senior cops in the area' about a possible attack.
Confusion
The shock report also reveals there was confusion at leadership level, inadequate resources, inexperienced staff and insufficient exchange of information with Gardai during the investigation into the Real IRA blast.
The atrocity - it claimed 29 innocent lives - was the single worst loss of life during 30 years of brutal violence in Ulster. And the controversial report - due to be handed to the victims' families next Wednesday - has been examined by outgoing PSNI Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan.
Although Sir Ronnie has already vehemently denied the claims, cops across Ulster denied Special Branch could've stopped the evil bombing.
A PSNI spokesman slammed those responsible for leaking the draft report.
He said: "We consider this report contains so many significant factual inaccuracies and unwarranted assumptions.
Warning
"But it also contains misunderstandings and material omissions.
"That's why 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 in this report."
And a senior PSNI source also denied cops had advance warnings of the Omagh bomb.
"The phone call was not about a bomb attack," the source pointed out.
"It was an allegation that an attack was planned on the day involving rifles and a rocket launcher.
"We intend to co-operate fully with the Police Ombudsman's office in relation to this matter.
"And the hunt for the people who bombed Omagh will also be continuing relentlessly."
Watchdog must go demand angry officers
By Stephen Breen
ANGRY cops last night called for Ulster's Police Ombudsman to step down after it was claiming Special Branch knew terrorists were about to bomb Omagh. A leaked report from the Nuala O'Loan claimed high-ranking officers failed to act on a tip-off about a planned terrorist operation in the Co Tyrone town just 11 days before the devastating bombing on August 15, 1998.
And it has been claimed the un-der-fire Special Branch officers failed to alert senior cops in the area' about a possible attack.
Confusion
The shock report also reveals there was confusion at leadership level, inadequate resources, inexperienced staff and insufficient exchange of information with Gardai during the investigation into the Real IRA blast.
The atrocity - it claimed 29 innocent lives - was the single worst loss of life during 30 years of brutal violence in Ulster. And the controversial report - due to be handed to the victims' families next Wednesday - has been examined by outgoing PSNI Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan.
Although Sir Ronnie has already vehemently denied the claims, cops across Ulster denied Special Branch could've stopped the evil bombing.
A PSNI spokesman slammed those responsible for leaking the draft report.
He said: "We consider this report contains so many significant factual inaccuracies and unwarranted assumptions.
Warning
"But it also contains misunderstandings and material omissions.
"That's why 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 in this report."
And a senior PSNI source also denied cops had advance warnings of the Omagh bomb.
"The phone call was not about a bomb attack," the source pointed out.
"It was an allegation that an attack was planned on the day involving rifles and a rocket launcher.
"We intend to co-operate fully with the Police Ombudsman's office in relation to this matter.
"And the hunt for the people who bombed Omagh will also be continuing relentlessly."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0800
Published Date: 08-Dec-01
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