OMAGH FAMILIES ANGER AT SECURITY SERVICES REPORT
Omagh families' anger at security service report
BY LESLEY-ANNE HENRY
lhenry@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
CLAIMS that the intelligence services "knew nothing" that could have prevented the Omagh bomb have been dismissed by victims' families.
Outraged relatives of some of the 29 people murdered in the 1998 atrocity branded Sir Peter Gibson's review into alleged security service failings "a paper exercise".
The families, who had hoped to use any recordings in the long running civil action, also called on the Prime Minister to give them access to the full classified report.
Gordon Brown commissioned the Intelligence Services Commissioner to investigate allegations that the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) had monitored the bombers as they drove into the Co Tyrone town.
The report, which was presented to the House of Commons yesterday, said there was "no evidence" that GCHQ failed to pass on intercepted intelligence to the RUC.
Allegations over GCHQ and the alleged failure to share intelligence surrounding the bombing were raised in a Panorama documentary last year.
The programme claimed intelligence officers had been listening to and recording mobile telephone exchanges between occupants in the scout car and those in the Vauxhall Cavalier bomb car as they travelled across the border.
Former senior RUC officers involved in the initial investigation said they were never told of the existence of the tapes.
Godfrey Wilson, whose 15-year-old daughter Lorraine was killed in the bomb, said: "The review was nothing more than a paper exercise. We knew that these people did have phone numbers of people who were planting the bomb - why they did not give that forward to the security forces is unbelievable.
"It hurts me because I had a 15-year-old daughter who was doing charity work and trying to help people, and she would be 26 now and she'd probably have her own family, but she has been deprived of her life and we have been deprived of the joy of seeing her bring up her own children."
The families are expected to meet with Gordon Brown in the near future to discuss the review. Mr Wilson said he would be pushing for access to the full report.
Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Self Help and Support Group, added: "This was not what it was supposed to be. It had an air of independence.
"I think it has missed an opportunity to address the central core facts in the Panorama programme and that is 'why was information not passed at the earliest opportunity to the senior investigating officer?' That's something that needs to be looked at fully.
"There is no doubt in my mind that the intelligence services had the ability and were requested by Special Branch to listen to the bombers. We are at a loss as to why that information wasn't passed on to the senior investigating officer."
West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty said Sir Peter Gibson's findings were unsatisfactory.
"The release of a highly edited version of Peter Gibson's report into the Panorama revelations about the role of GCHQ in withholding intelligence relating to the bomb in Omagh, clearing the British intelligence agencies of any wrongdoing, will do little to satisfy those of us who want to see the truth around this bombing revealed," he said.
"The families of those killed in Omagh deserve answers and deserve the truth."
BY LESLEY-ANNE HENRY
lhenry@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
CLAIMS that the intelligence services "knew nothing" that could have prevented the Omagh bomb have been dismissed by victims' families.
Outraged relatives of some of the 29 people murdered in the 1998 atrocity branded Sir Peter Gibson's review into alleged security service failings "a paper exercise".
The families, who had hoped to use any recordings in the long running civil action, also called on the Prime Minister to give them access to the full classified report.
Gordon Brown commissioned the Intelligence Services Commissioner to investigate allegations that the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) had monitored the bombers as they drove into the Co Tyrone town.
The report, which was presented to the House of Commons yesterday, said there was "no evidence" that GCHQ failed to pass on intercepted intelligence to the RUC.
Allegations over GCHQ and the alleged failure to share intelligence surrounding the bombing were raised in a Panorama documentary last year.
The programme claimed intelligence officers had been listening to and recording mobile telephone exchanges between occupants in the scout car and those in the Vauxhall Cavalier bomb car as they travelled across the border.
Former senior RUC officers involved in the initial investigation said they were never told of the existence of the tapes.
Godfrey Wilson, whose 15-year-old daughter Lorraine was killed in the bomb, said: "The review was nothing more than a paper exercise. We knew that these people did have phone numbers of people who were planting the bomb - why they did not give that forward to the security forces is unbelievable.
"It hurts me because I had a 15-year-old daughter who was doing charity work and trying to help people, and she would be 26 now and she'd probably have her own family, but she has been deprived of her life and we have been deprived of the joy of seeing her bring up her own children."
The families are expected to meet with Gordon Brown in the near future to discuss the review. Mr Wilson said he would be pushing for access to the full report.
Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Self Help and Support Group, added: "This was not what it was supposed to be. It had an air of independence.
"I think it has missed an opportunity to address the central core facts in the Panorama programme and that is 'why was information not passed at the earliest opportunity to the senior investigating officer?' That's something that needs to be looked at fully.
"There is no doubt in my mind that the intelligence services had the ability and were requested by Special Branch to listen to the bombers. We are at a loss as to why that information wasn't passed on to the senior investigating officer."
West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty said Sir Peter Gibson's findings were unsatisfactory.
"The release of a highly edited version of Peter Gibson's report into the Panorama revelations about the role of GCHQ in withholding intelligence relating to the bomb in Omagh, clearing the British intelligence agencies of any wrongdoing, will do little to satisfy those of us who want to see the truth around this bombing revealed," he said.
"The families of those killed in Omagh deserve answers and deserve the truth."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/1131
Published Date: 22-Jan-09
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