DURKAN RAPPED OVER OMAGH
Durkan rapped over Omagh
SDLP leader Mark Durkan has been accused of jeopardising the Northern Ireland Policing Board's efforts to resolve the Omagh bomb investigation controversy. Fred Cobain, an Ulster Unionist member of the board, launched an attack on Mr Durkan's assertion that an outside officer should be drafted in to head the hunt for the Real IRA gang who killed 29 people in the Tyrone town in August 1998.
The call by Mr Durkan echoed the recommendation of Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan in her damning report into how the Northern Ireland Police Service handled the investigation which sparked a furious rebuttal from Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan.
But as the 19-strong group prepared for crucial meetings with both key protagonists in a bid to end the acrimony, Mr Cobain said: "This has the potential to scupper the Policing Board's ability to resolve this in a non-party political way."
In her report Mrs O'Loan recommended a team headed by a senior officer independent of the PSNI should be set up.
Her call was rejected by Sir Ronnie.
Superintendent Brian McArthur, the former Deputy Senior Investigating Officer who has been running the probe for the last 18 months, is to remain in control.
SDLP leader Mark Durkan has been accused of jeopardising the Northern Ireland Policing Board's efforts to resolve the Omagh bomb investigation controversy. Fred Cobain, an Ulster Unionist member of the board, launched an attack on Mr Durkan's assertion that an outside officer should be drafted in to head the hunt for the Real IRA gang who killed 29 people in the Tyrone town in August 1998.
The call by Mr Durkan echoed the recommendation of Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan in her damning report into how the Northern Ireland Police Service handled the investigation which sparked a furious rebuttal from Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan.
But as the 19-strong group prepared for crucial meetings with both key protagonists in a bid to end the acrimony, Mr Cobain said: "This has the potential to scupper the Policing Board's ability to resolve this in a non-party political way."
In her report Mrs O'Loan recommended a team headed by a senior officer independent of the PSNI should be set up.
Her call was rejected by Sir Ronnie.
Superintendent Brian McArthur, the former Deputy Senior Investigating Officer who has been running the probe for the last 18 months, is to remain in control.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0848
Published Date: 04-Feb-02
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