RESPONSE TO OMAGH PROBE SLIPSHOD
Response to Omagh probe 'slipshod'
BY SAM LISTER
SHAUN Woodward was last night accused of issuing a "slipshod" and "seriously deficient" response to a Parliamentary probe into how the Omagh bombing was investigated.
MPs expressed "deep dissatisfaction and disappointment" with the reply the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland gave to their investigation into intelligence sharing at the time of the blast.
The Northern Ireland Affairs committee accused the Government of contradicting itself over whether there should be a fresh investigation into claims the security forces withheld information about the explosion that killed 29 people and two unborn children.
Members also attacked the Government for turning on the Panorama journalist who raised fresh claims about the way vital information was handled because he would not reveal his sources.
Instead, it should have addressed the real question of whether its own review on intercept evidence adequately tackled the concerns raised.
The Prime Minister was again criticised for his "unreasonable" decision to refuse the committee chairman access to that report, which was carried out by the Intelligence Services Commissioner Sir Peter Gibson.
Committee chairman Sir Patrick Cormack told the Belfast Telegraph MPs would have accepted an interim report because the Government had just three weeks to formulate its response to their recommendations because of the looming election.
BY SAM LISTER
SHAUN Woodward was last night accused of issuing a "slipshod" and "seriously deficient" response to a Parliamentary probe into how the Omagh bombing was investigated.
MPs expressed "deep dissatisfaction and disappointment" with the reply the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland gave to their investigation into intelligence sharing at the time of the blast.
The Northern Ireland Affairs committee accused the Government of contradicting itself over whether there should be a fresh investigation into claims the security forces withheld information about the explosion that killed 29 people and two unborn children.
Members also attacked the Government for turning on the Panorama journalist who raised fresh claims about the way vital information was handled because he would not reveal his sources.
Instead, it should have addressed the real question of whether its own review on intercept evidence adequately tackled the concerns raised.
The Prime Minister was again criticised for his "unreasonable" decision to refuse the committee chairman access to that report, which was carried out by the Intelligence Services Commissioner Sir Peter Gibson.
Committee chairman Sir Patrick Cormack told the Belfast Telegraph MPs would have accepted an interim report because the Government had just three weeks to formulate its response to their recommendations because of the looming election.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/1188
Published Date: 09-Apr-10
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