OMAGH RELATIVES HOLD 'FRANK' TALKS
Omagh relatives hold 'frank' talks
By Ian Graham
INTELLIGENCE gathered by MI5 before the Omagh bombing was only passed to the police in Northern Ireland earlier this year, families of those killed in the atrocity had confirmed today during talks with Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was among the 29-people murdered by the Real IRA in August 1998, said if the intelligence had been passed on before the attack it might have made a difference.
Mr Gallagher and others who lost loved ones in the bombing, together with a number of those injured, spent two hours in heated discussion with the chief constable.
It was the first time they had met and Mr Gallagher described the discussions as "very long, at times difficult and sometimes very frank".
Speaking on behalf of the group, Mr Gallagher said "We talked about the way things had been handled, the intelligence, particularly MI5.
"He confirmed that it was only earlier this year that the PSNI was aware of that intelligence for the first time. It was important for us to hear it from the chief constable.
"That was something outside his control, but nevertheless we believe it could have made a difference and the police in Omagh had a right to know that intelligence so that they could at least have had a chance."
He said many other opportunities had been missed.
"It may or may not have had a bearing on the Omagh bomb but at least it would have raised the state of awareness that there was a bomb attack on its way."
The families left Sir Hugh in no doubt at their dissatisfaction that nearly eight years after the bombing no-one had yet been convicted of murder.
So far only south Armagh electrician Sean Hoey, (36), had been charged with killing those slaughtered in the car bombing. He is due to go on trial in September.
The families are also planning a civil action against several men they believe to be responsible for the bomb attack.
Mr Gallagher said that once the two cases were completed the families would be pressing for a full cross-border public inquiry.
They will be pressing the Government to commit to one and local politicians to support them.
By Ian Graham
INTELLIGENCE gathered by MI5 before the Omagh bombing was only passed to the police in Northern Ireland earlier this year, families of those killed in the atrocity had confirmed today during talks with Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was among the 29-people murdered by the Real IRA in August 1998, said if the intelligence had been passed on before the attack it might have made a difference.
Mr Gallagher and others who lost loved ones in the bombing, together with a number of those injured, spent two hours in heated discussion with the chief constable.
It was the first time they had met and Mr Gallagher described the discussions as "very long, at times difficult and sometimes very frank".
Speaking on behalf of the group, Mr Gallagher said "We talked about the way things had been handled, the intelligence, particularly MI5.
"He confirmed that it was only earlier this year that the PSNI was aware of that intelligence for the first time. It was important for us to hear it from the chief constable.
"That was something outside his control, but nevertheless we believe it could have made a difference and the police in Omagh had a right to know that intelligence so that they could at least have had a chance."
He said many other opportunities had been missed.
"It may or may not have had a bearing on the Omagh bomb but at least it would have raised the state of awareness that there was a bomb attack on its way."
The families left Sir Hugh in no doubt at their dissatisfaction that nearly eight years after the bombing no-one had yet been convicted of murder.
So far only south Armagh electrician Sean Hoey, (36), had been charged with killing those slaughtered in the car bombing. He is due to go on trial in September.
The families are also planning a civil action against several men they believe to be responsible for the bomb attack.
Mr Gallagher said that once the two cases were completed the families would be pressing for a full cross-border public inquiry.
They will be pressing the Government to commit to one and local politicians to support them.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/1004
Published Date: 04-Apr-06
Related Images
