OMAGH DNA DELAY: GARDA NOT TO BLAME
Omagh DNA delay: Garda not to blame
By Michael McHugh
The PSNI have ruled out Garda involvement in the 15-month delay in handing over vital Omagh bomb DNA evidence.
Assistant Chief Constable Sam Kincaid told yesterday's Policing Board meeting that there was "nothing to indicate" Garda involvement in the delay but would not comment on claims that the Irish Department of Justice has hindered progress.
The samples - taken from republicans while in Garda custody last year - were handed over to the Omagh investigation team a week ago.
In September, the PSNI urged Security Minister .Ian Pearson to intervene to ask Irish Justice Minister Michael McDowell to ensure the samples were made available.
ACC Sam Kincaid said the PSNI's request for the material had been submitted for legal opinion by the Irish authorities but added that it was now being processed by the PSNI.
"Requests for material from other countries goes through several stages. We see nothing to indicate that the Garda played a role in any way in this delay," he said. "I cannot ascribe where the delay happened."
The senior officer added that the PSNI engaged in cross-border co-operation on a regular basis and had established a North/South organised crime threat assessment group.
His Chief Constable Hugh Orde interjected that relations were "extremely good" between the two forces.
DUP Assemblyman Sammy Wilson said the hold-up did not represent good co-operation.
"Fifteen months delay hardly seems to me to be good co-operation and that cannot be regarded as speedy," he said. "Is it a result of political considerations by the Department of Justice or was the logjam with the Garda."
Michael Gallagher from the Omagh Victims Self-Help Group had been pressing for action and said that, irrespective of the source of the delay, the Irish Government had broken promises to the victims' families.
"It was Bertie Ahern who said that no sod would be left unturned and that everything possible would be done to bring these people to justice. You could hardly describe 15 months as good co-operation," he said.
"Even if evidence was being transferred between Spain and Germany it would not take that long. It was not the Garda's fault that it took so long, it was a political delay but... it is unacceptable."
By Michael McHugh
The PSNI have ruled out Garda involvement in the 15-month delay in handing over vital Omagh bomb DNA evidence.
Assistant Chief Constable Sam Kincaid told yesterday's Policing Board meeting that there was "nothing to indicate" Garda involvement in the delay but would not comment on claims that the Irish Department of Justice has hindered progress.
The samples - taken from republicans while in Garda custody last year - were handed over to the Omagh investigation team a week ago.
In September, the PSNI urged Security Minister .Ian Pearson to intervene to ask Irish Justice Minister Michael McDowell to ensure the samples were made available.
ACC Sam Kincaid said the PSNI's request for the material had been submitted for legal opinion by the Irish authorities but added that it was now being processed by the PSNI.
"Requests for material from other countries goes through several stages. We see nothing to indicate that the Garda played a role in any way in this delay," he said. "I cannot ascribe where the delay happened."
The senior officer added that the PSNI engaged in cross-border co-operation on a regular basis and had established a North/South organised crime threat assessment group.
His Chief Constable Hugh Orde interjected that relations were "extremely good" between the two forces.
DUP Assemblyman Sammy Wilson said the hold-up did not represent good co-operation.
"Fifteen months delay hardly seems to me to be good co-operation and that cannot be regarded as speedy," he said. "Is it a result of political considerations by the Department of Justice or was the logjam with the Garda."
Michael Gallagher from the Omagh Victims Self-Help Group had been pressing for action and said that, irrespective of the source of the delay, the Irish Government had broken promises to the victims' families.
"It was Bertie Ahern who said that no sod would be left unturned and that everything possible would be done to bring these people to justice. You could hardly describe 15 months as good co-operation," he said.
"Even if evidence was being transferred between Spain and Germany it would not take that long. It was not the Garda's fault that it took so long, it was a political delay but... it is unacceptable."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0943
Published Date: 05-Nov-04
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