NEW EVIDENCE BOOSTS OMAGH FAMILIES CALL FOR FRESH INQUIRY
New evidence' boosts Omagh families' call for fresh inquiry
BY ADRIAN RUTHERFORD
background
The Omagh bombing was the single worst atrocity of the Troubles. A 500lbs car bomb ripped through the town killing 29 people and injuring 200 others. Among the dead were nine children, a woman carrying unborn twins and three generations of the same family. The Real IRA used a stolen red Vauxhall Cavalier to carry the bomb.
FAMILIES of the Omagh bomb victims claim that they have uncovered new evidence which will strengthen their campaign for a cross-border inquiry into the terrorist atrocity.
The details emerged after relatives held a meeting with members of a powerful Westminster committee in the Co Tyrone town yesterday. Officials from the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee met the families after laying a wreath in the memorial garden.
Twenty-nine people and unborn twins died when a 500lbs bomb blast ripped through Market Street on August 15, 1998.
Despite a lengthy police investigation, no-one has been convicted in a criminal court of the Real IRA massacre.
The families want a cross-border investigation into alleged failings by police in Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Speaking after the meeting, Michael Gallagher from the Omagh Support and Self Help Group said he hoped a report commissioned by the families would strengthen their case.
"We are looking at all the inquiries that have been carried out on both sides of the border and have new material which I believe will support the call for a full cross-border inquiry," he told the Belfast Telegraph.
"We feel the British and Irish governments will want to address our report.
"It is an uphill struggle, but we feel such is the evidence, that should the governments ignore this, we will then go to the courts."
Mr Gallagher, whose son Aid.in died in the bombing, declined to comment on the nature of the new material.
However, he added: There is information which has not been presented in the public domain which could have a bearing on whether we have an inquiry. We are hoping that the report will be complete around mid-March."
The committee's previous chairman, Sir Patrick Cormack, has acknowledged that there are unanswered questions about the Omagh bomb and expressed hope the new committee would address these outstanding issues.
Although he did not get any pledge on a public inquiry, Mr Gallagher was happy with how the meeting went.
"It was very positive," he said.
In 2009 four men were held responsible by a civil court for the bombing - the worst single attack of the Troubles. Appeals by two of the men were upheld last year.
A man accused of murder was cleared by a criminal court in 2007. A 2001 report by former Police Ombudsman Dame Nuala O'Loan criticised poor judgment in the Royal Ulster Constabulary in the years after the attack.
BY ADRIAN RUTHERFORD
background
The Omagh bombing was the single worst atrocity of the Troubles. A 500lbs car bomb ripped through the town killing 29 people and injuring 200 others. Among the dead were nine children, a woman carrying unborn twins and three generations of the same family. The Real IRA used a stolen red Vauxhall Cavalier to carry the bomb.
FAMILIES of the Omagh bomb victims claim that they have uncovered new evidence which will strengthen their campaign for a cross-border inquiry into the terrorist atrocity.
The details emerged after relatives held a meeting with members of a powerful Westminster committee in the Co Tyrone town yesterday. Officials from the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee met the families after laying a wreath in the memorial garden.
Twenty-nine people and unborn twins died when a 500lbs bomb blast ripped through Market Street on August 15, 1998.
Despite a lengthy police investigation, no-one has been convicted in a criminal court of the Real IRA massacre.
The families want a cross-border investigation into alleged failings by police in Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Speaking after the meeting, Michael Gallagher from the Omagh Support and Self Help Group said he hoped a report commissioned by the families would strengthen their case.
"We are looking at all the inquiries that have been carried out on both sides of the border and have new material which I believe will support the call for a full cross-border inquiry," he told the Belfast Telegraph.
"We feel the British and Irish governments will want to address our report.
"It is an uphill struggle, but we feel such is the evidence, that should the governments ignore this, we will then go to the courts."
Mr Gallagher, whose son Aid.in died in the bombing, declined to comment on the nature of the new material.
However, he added: There is information which has not been presented in the public domain which could have a bearing on whether we have an inquiry. We are hoping that the report will be complete around mid-March."
The committee's previous chairman, Sir Patrick Cormack, has acknowledged that there are unanswered questions about the Omagh bomb and expressed hope the new committee would address these outstanding issues.
Although he did not get any pledge on a public inquiry, Mr Gallagher was happy with how the meeting went.
"It was very positive," he said.
In 2009 four men were held responsible by a civil court for the bombing - the worst single attack of the Troubles. Appeals by two of the men were upheld last year.
A man accused of murder was cleared by a criminal court in 2007. A 2001 report by former Police Ombudsman Dame Nuala O'Loan criticised poor judgment in the Royal Ulster Constabulary in the years after the attack.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/1216
Published Date: 04-Feb-12
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.