OMAGH GRIEF TURNED INTO POLITICAL ISSUE
Omagh grief turned into 'political issue'
By Noel McAdam
Political Correspondent
PROSECUTIONS over the Omagh bomb have been held back because of "political interference", a DUP Assemblyman claimed today.
West Tyrone member Oliver Gibson, who lost a relative in the Real IRA attack, also said a public inquiry into the atrocity would "prolong the agony" and would not bring more of those responsible to justice.
The former UDR member, who lost his cousin's niece Esther Gibson in the bombing, said grieving had been turned into a political issue.
The 67-year-old former teacher described the bitter dispute between the Ombudsman and Chief Constable as a "bare-knuckle fight."
After the bombing there had been promises no stone would be left unturned and there would be draconian laws, but that had not been the case, he said. Speaking on today's BBC Northern Ireland Inside Politics programme, he added: "I suspect, along with a lot of other people in Omagh, that there has been political interference in the judicial process to placate the republican movement. Prosecutions have not been allowed to proceed." Describing the conviction of Colm Murphy as a "smokescreen", he said the relatives had beer dragged back into a "very grieving situation." "Old wounds have been re-opened. The scabs have been taken off wounds. This is not necessary. A public inquiry (will only) prolong the agony."
His comments came as First Minister David Trimble said Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan had "demolished" the Ombudsman's claim that intelligence over the bombing was mishandled. The Ulster Unionist leader also warned the Ombudsman may have made any constructive relationship between her office and the police impossible, but urged both Mr Flanagan and Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan to publish their respective reports. "The public is entitled to make its own judgment," he told the annual meeting of the East Antrim Ulster Unionist Association last night. "I believe when that happens that the public will be reassured that the Chief Constable has demolished the argument that intelligence was mishandled and the Ombudsman's implication that somehow the RUC could have prevented the Omagh bomb."
"The issue now appears instead to be turning on the question of the Police's conduct of the investigation into the terrorist incident."
By Noel McAdam
Political Correspondent
PROSECUTIONS over the Omagh bomb have been held back because of "political interference", a DUP Assemblyman claimed today.
West Tyrone member Oliver Gibson, who lost a relative in the Real IRA attack, also said a public inquiry into the atrocity would "prolong the agony" and would not bring more of those responsible to justice.
The former UDR member, who lost his cousin's niece Esther Gibson in the bombing, said grieving had been turned into a political issue.
The 67-year-old former teacher described the bitter dispute between the Ombudsman and Chief Constable as a "bare-knuckle fight."
After the bombing there had been promises no stone would be left unturned and there would be draconian laws, but that had not been the case, he said. Speaking on today's BBC Northern Ireland Inside Politics programme, he added: "I suspect, along with a lot of other people in Omagh, that there has been political interference in the judicial process to placate the republican movement. Prosecutions have not been allowed to proceed." Describing the conviction of Colm Murphy as a "smokescreen", he said the relatives had beer dragged back into a "very grieving situation." "Old wounds have been re-opened. The scabs have been taken off wounds. This is not necessary. A public inquiry (will only) prolong the agony."
His comments came as First Minister David Trimble said Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan had "demolished" the Ombudsman's claim that intelligence over the bombing was mishandled. The Ulster Unionist leader also warned the Ombudsman may have made any constructive relationship between her office and the police impossible, but urged both Mr Flanagan and Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan to publish their respective reports. "The public is entitled to make its own judgment," he told the annual meeting of the East Antrim Ulster Unionist Association last night. "I believe when that happens that the public will be reassured that the Chief Constable has demolished the argument that intelligence was mishandled and the Ombudsman's implication that somehow the RUC could have prevented the Omagh bomb."
"The issue now appears instead to be turning on the question of the Police's conduct of the investigation into the terrorist incident."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0844
Published Date: 26-Jan-02
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