ANGRY RELATIVES CALL FOR PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO INVESTIGATION
Angry relatives call for public inquiry into investigation
By Mary Fitzgerald and David Gordon
RELATIVES of those killed by the Omagh bomb today reacted angrily to the Chief Constable's claims that the Police Ombudsman's report was inaccurate, and they challenged him to provide evidence to back up his allegations.
Nuala O'Loan's report claimed the RUC's investigation was undermined by defective leadership and poor judgment.
Sir Ronnie - who warned he may go to the High Court - alleged that the Ombudsman had reached "erroneous conclusions" in advance and had tried to support their predetermined assessment. He also said that neither he nor his senior officers had been interviewed about the charges.
However, the families today backed up their demands for a full public inquiry into the 1998 bomb by calling for an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
Speaking on behalf of the Omagh Victims Group, Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was among the 29 victims and two unborn children killed, said: "It is obvious that the report has been found unpalatable by the Chief Constable. "If he thinks there are inaccuracies in the report then he must come out and give evidence to prove what he is saying, just as Mrs O'Loan has done. The onus is on him."
Referring to the dispute between Mrs O'Loan and Sir Ronnie, Mr Gallagher said the families' feelings must be taken into account.
"We must move forward now and failing to take what we want into consideration would be wrong. There are a lot of questions and a lot of things need to be put right." He said the tide of public opinion was behind the families.
"There is a much more powerful force which will influence the outcome of this and that is public opinion," he said.
Des Doherty, solicitor for Lawrence Rush, whose wife Elizabeth died in the explosion, urged Sir Ronnie to respond to the report in a "constructive manner". "The suffering of the families could not have been prolonged any further," he said.
Mr Doherty added: "If there are to be no prosecutions in the case, as Lawrence genuinely feels, it may well be that a public inquiry is the only was forward. "It may be premature to even speak about that at the moment, but I think that all of these issues need to be looked at."
Sir Ronnie will prepare a point-by-point response to Mrs O'Loan's criticisms, but a date has not yet been set for its publication.
Secretary of State, John Reid, is expected to hold further discussions about the row with the Chief Constable and the Ombudsman.
Dr Reid said he regretted the "acrimonious atmosphere" of the past week and called for a "calm and sensible debate".
The focus of the Omagh debate will now switch to the Policing Board, which is planning to hear from all those involved in the bitter dispute.
Meanwhile, Patten Commission member Maurice Hayes - the man who designed the Police Ombudsman's role - warned that the rift between the Police Service and Mrs O'Loan could damage public confidence. "Policing is in a fragile state," said Mr Hayes.
"If they are seen to be locked in combat, much less in an undignified slagging match, they both defeat the objectives of public reassurance and accountability which they were designed to achieve."
By Mary Fitzgerald and David Gordon
RELATIVES of those killed by the Omagh bomb today reacted angrily to the Chief Constable's claims that the Police Ombudsman's report was inaccurate, and they challenged him to provide evidence to back up his allegations.
Nuala O'Loan's report claimed the RUC's investigation was undermined by defective leadership and poor judgment.
Sir Ronnie - who warned he may go to the High Court - alleged that the Ombudsman had reached "erroneous conclusions" in advance and had tried to support their predetermined assessment. He also said that neither he nor his senior officers had been interviewed about the charges.
However, the families today backed up their demands for a full public inquiry into the 1998 bomb by calling for an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
Speaking on behalf of the Omagh Victims Group, Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was among the 29 victims and two unborn children killed, said: "It is obvious that the report has been found unpalatable by the Chief Constable. "If he thinks there are inaccuracies in the report then he must come out and give evidence to prove what he is saying, just as Mrs O'Loan has done. The onus is on him."
Referring to the dispute between Mrs O'Loan and Sir Ronnie, Mr Gallagher said the families' feelings must be taken into account.
"We must move forward now and failing to take what we want into consideration would be wrong. There are a lot of questions and a lot of things need to be put right." He said the tide of public opinion was behind the families.
"There is a much more powerful force which will influence the outcome of this and that is public opinion," he said.
Des Doherty, solicitor for Lawrence Rush, whose wife Elizabeth died in the explosion, urged Sir Ronnie to respond to the report in a "constructive manner". "The suffering of the families could not have been prolonged any further," he said.
Mr Doherty added: "If there are to be no prosecutions in the case, as Lawrence genuinely feels, it may well be that a public inquiry is the only was forward. "It may be premature to even speak about that at the moment, but I think that all of these issues need to be looked at."
Sir Ronnie will prepare a point-by-point response to Mrs O'Loan's criticisms, but a date has not yet been set for its publication.
Secretary of State, John Reid, is expected to hold further discussions about the row with the Chief Constable and the Ombudsman.
Dr Reid said he regretted the "acrimonious atmosphere" of the past week and called for a "calm and sensible debate".
The focus of the Omagh debate will now switch to the Policing Board, which is planning to hear from all those involved in the bitter dispute.
Meanwhile, Patten Commission member Maurice Hayes - the man who designed the Police Ombudsman's role - warned that the rift between the Police Service and Mrs O'Loan could damage public confidence. "Policing is in a fragile state," said Mr Hayes.
"If they are seen to be locked in combat, much less in an undignified slagging match, they both defeat the objectives of public reassurance and accountability which they were designed to achieve."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0802
Published Date: 13-Dec-01
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