REPUBLICANS WILL BE CROWING WITH DELIGHT
Republicans will be crowing with delight
AS an Omagh resident I have been deeply saddened by the police ombudsman's damning report criticising Special Branch's handling of events before and after the Omagh bomb and, in particular, the role of the Chief Constable. Sir Ronnie Flanagan's forthright rebuttal of the report's findings were only to be expected. Little wonder the bereaved families feel totally betrayed, confused, even angry, and are crying out for someone in authority to tell them just what more can be done to round up the fiends who planned and planted the bomb and have them put behind bars for a long time. No one seems to know where the truth really lies and this is why calls are being made to both Prime Ministers to try to move things forward. After all, each promised three years ago that no effort would be spared to track down the murderers.
The police ombudsman wants another investigative team to take charge and some of the relatives are even demanding a public inquiry to sort it all out. No one wants justice to become yet another victim of the atrocity.
I feel strongly that the interests of the seekers of truth and justice, however commendable, will not be served by calling for yet another inquiry.
We shall probably never know if the planting of the bomb in Omagh could have been prevented or a single arrest carried out, had more rigorous evidence gathering techniques been adopted.
Until the political will in both jurisdictions is sufficiently strong to compel key witnesses to provide the necessary evidence in court to bring about a conviction, another investigative procedure will not only be time-wasting and expensive but entirely unproductive.
Republicans who have no love for police on either side of the border will be crowing with sheer delight as the spotlight is shifted from the law-breakers to those charged with keeping law and order.
WILFRED BREEN, Omagh, Tyrone.
AS an Omagh resident I have been deeply saddened by the police ombudsman's damning report criticising Special Branch's handling of events before and after the Omagh bomb and, in particular, the role of the Chief Constable. Sir Ronnie Flanagan's forthright rebuttal of the report's findings were only to be expected. Little wonder the bereaved families feel totally betrayed, confused, even angry, and are crying out for someone in authority to tell them just what more can be done to round up the fiends who planned and planted the bomb and have them put behind bars for a long time. No one seems to know where the truth really lies and this is why calls are being made to both Prime Ministers to try to move things forward. After all, each promised three years ago that no effort would be spared to track down the murderers.
The police ombudsman wants another investigative team to take charge and some of the relatives are even demanding a public inquiry to sort it all out. No one wants justice to become yet another victim of the atrocity.
I feel strongly that the interests of the seekers of truth and justice, however commendable, will not be served by calling for yet another inquiry.
We shall probably never know if the planting of the bomb in Omagh could have been prevented or a single arrest carried out, had more rigorous evidence gathering techniques been adopted.
Until the political will in both jurisdictions is sufficiently strong to compel key witnesses to provide the necessary evidence in court to bring about a conviction, another investigative procedure will not only be time-wasting and expensive but entirely unproductive.
Republicans who have no love for police on either side of the border will be crowing with sheer delight as the spotlight is shifted from the law-breakers to those charged with keeping law and order.
WILFRED BREEN, Omagh, Tyrone.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0809
Published Date: 19-Dec-01
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