RELEASE OMAGH TAPES FOR CIVIL CASE
Release Omagh tapes for civil case'
Families of victims plea after Panorama claims
BY LISA SMYTH AND SIMON CREER
lsmyth@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
THE Victims' Commissioner today called on the government to clarify whether it was listening to the Omagh bombers' mobile phone calls in "real time".
Bertha McDougal was speaking today after last night's BBC Panorama programme revealed that the intelligence agency was monitoring Real IRA phone conversations as the bombers drove the device into the town in August 1998.
Mrs McDougal said: "At this stage the commission has an open mind on whether there should be a public inquiry or not.
"We intend to form a view on that matter by meeting with families and by urgently meeting with the Secretary of State and the Justice Minister from the Republic," she said.
In a BBC interview Mrs McDougal said she had not spoken with the families about the specific matters brought to light by the programme. She said: "We were aware there were on going issues and have been in touch with the families and those issues have been continually raised.
"Until the programme was on the air last night there were a lot of issues that were not in the public domain."
She said that the commission would like to meet with the families and listen to their views. She said: "We want to undertake that as quickly as possible but a lot of that will depend on the families and when they feel they are able to meet with us."
The families demanded a government probe into the alleged existence of potentially damning evidence against those behind the atrocity.
Following allegations that the government possesses recordings of telephone conversations by some of those believed to be responsible for the deadly explosion, Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, called for any such recordings to be released so they can be used in the civil action.
During the programme, it was revealed that Security Services have had in their possession evidence that helps identify some of those responsible for the car bomb attack in Omagh by the Real IRA in August 1998.
Panorama's investigation uncovered that on the day of the attack Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) was covertly recording mobile telephone communications between the bombers on their journey into Omagh.
The fact of the phone calls, as opposed to their content, is currently a live issue in the civil action trial. From these recordings, the identities of individuals involved could be identified, not least from the conversations and their voices.
Jason McHugh, lawyer for the families involved in the civil trial, declined to comment on the case as it is ongoing. However, he said that the families intend to fight to ensure any such intelligence recordings are brought before the High Court.
Sinn Fein MP for West Tyrone Pat Doherty has again called for an independent all Ireland inquiry to investigate the circumstances leading up to the Omagh bomb.
Families of victims plea after Panorama claims
BY LISA SMYTH AND SIMON CREER
lsmyth@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
THE Victims' Commissioner today called on the government to clarify whether it was listening to the Omagh bombers' mobile phone calls in "real time".
Bertha McDougal was speaking today after last night's BBC Panorama programme revealed that the intelligence agency was monitoring Real IRA phone conversations as the bombers drove the device into the town in August 1998.
Mrs McDougal said: "At this stage the commission has an open mind on whether there should be a public inquiry or not.
"We intend to form a view on that matter by meeting with families and by urgently meeting with the Secretary of State and the Justice Minister from the Republic," she said.
In a BBC interview Mrs McDougal said she had not spoken with the families about the specific matters brought to light by the programme. She said: "We were aware there were on going issues and have been in touch with the families and those issues have been continually raised.
"Until the programme was on the air last night there were a lot of issues that were not in the public domain."
She said that the commission would like to meet with the families and listen to their views. She said: "We want to undertake that as quickly as possible but a lot of that will depend on the families and when they feel they are able to meet with us."
The families demanded a government probe into the alleged existence of potentially damning evidence against those behind the atrocity.
Following allegations that the government possesses recordings of telephone conversations by some of those believed to be responsible for the deadly explosion, Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, called for any such recordings to be released so they can be used in the civil action.
During the programme, it was revealed that Security Services have had in their possession evidence that helps identify some of those responsible for the car bomb attack in Omagh by the Real IRA in August 1998.
Panorama's investigation uncovered that on the day of the attack Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) was covertly recording mobile telephone communications between the bombers on their journey into Omagh.
The fact of the phone calls, as opposed to their content, is currently a live issue in the civil action trial. From these recordings, the identities of individuals involved could be identified, not least from the conversations and their voices.
Jason McHugh, lawyer for the families involved in the civil trial, declined to comment on the case as it is ongoing. However, he said that the families intend to fight to ensure any such intelligence recordings are brought before the High Court.
Sinn Fein MP for West Tyrone Pat Doherty has again called for an independent all Ireland inquiry to investigate the circumstances leading up to the Omagh bomb.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/1110
Published Date: 16-Sep-08
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