MAYHEM CAUSED IN ERROR
Mayhem caused 'in error'
By TOM BRADY, Security Editor
THE DETONATION of the Omagh car bomb several hundred yards from its intended target is believed to have been due to a foul-up over the warning rather than a deliberate attempt to lure victims into a trap.
A codeworded telephone warning from Oglaigh na hEireann to a television newsroom on Saturday afternoon indicated that the bomb was due to explode outside the town's courthouse.
The detonation of the bomb four hundred yards away led to speculation over the weekend that the warning might have been deliberately misleading to create maximum mayhem.
This theory was given some credence in initial comments by RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan, but last night it was thought more likely that the terrorists were guilty of an error with devastating effects.
One security source said: "It makes no difference to the unfortunate victims of this atrocity and their families, but an examination of the likely lead-up to the bombing and the pattern used by republican groups up to now would lean towards the cock-up theory.''
The car used in the bombing was stolen by the terrorists in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan on Thursday and was then probably taken to a safe house used by the dissidents based either in south Armagh or in Co Tyrone.
The vehicle was then packed with five hundred pounds of homemade explosive by a bombing expert, probably one of two experienced ex-Provisionals from south Armagh, and prepared for priming.
Another member of the gang was probably given the task of bringing the primed bomb into the centre of Omagh while an accomplice telephoned the coded warning to Belfast. But at some vital stage the terrorists plan broke down, possibly if the car driver panicked when he saw the town packed with cars or else spotted a police patrol and abandoned the bomb prematurely well away from its intended target.
A security source said: "This group would know that any attempt to create wholesale civilian carnage in Omagh would be counter productive from their viewpoint with the added likelihood that there was a fifty-fifty chance that a victim could be Catholic.
"The terrorists would also not have the opportunity to know which way the crowds were likely to be turned as a result of their warning,'' he added.
The Chief Constable said he could come to no other conclusion but that the security forces were given deliberately misleading information.
Mr Flanagan, who has set up a task force to hunt the killers, has branded the bombing as "bloody murder''.
Visiting the town centre on Saturday night Mr Flanagan said it was not an act carried out against the police or British army or against the peace process it was an attack on the people of Omagh.
Meanwhile the 32-County Sovereignty Movement, a self-styled pressure group demanding British withdrawal, but which denies links with the Real IRA, said last night the killing of innocent people could not be justified.
In a statement the group said: "We are deeply saddened and devastated by the terrible tragedy in Omagh.
"We share the grief and sorrow of everyone on the island of Ireland and we offer our sincere sympathy to the injured, bereaved, their families and friends.''
The statement added: "The killing of innocent people cannot be justified in any circumstances. We are a political movement and are not a military group.
"We reject categorically suggestions which have been made that our movement was responsible in any way.''
By TOM BRADY, Security Editor
THE DETONATION of the Omagh car bomb several hundred yards from its intended target is believed to have been due to a foul-up over the warning rather than a deliberate attempt to lure victims into a trap.
A codeworded telephone warning from Oglaigh na hEireann to a television newsroom on Saturday afternoon indicated that the bomb was due to explode outside the town's courthouse.
The detonation of the bomb four hundred yards away led to speculation over the weekend that the warning might have been deliberately misleading to create maximum mayhem.
This theory was given some credence in initial comments by RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan, but last night it was thought more likely that the terrorists were guilty of an error with devastating effects.
One security source said: "It makes no difference to the unfortunate victims of this atrocity and their families, but an examination of the likely lead-up to the bombing and the pattern used by republican groups up to now would lean towards the cock-up theory.''
The car used in the bombing was stolen by the terrorists in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan on Thursday and was then probably taken to a safe house used by the dissidents based either in south Armagh or in Co Tyrone.
The vehicle was then packed with five hundred pounds of homemade explosive by a bombing expert, probably one of two experienced ex-Provisionals from south Armagh, and prepared for priming.
Another member of the gang was probably given the task of bringing the primed bomb into the centre of Omagh while an accomplice telephoned the coded warning to Belfast. But at some vital stage the terrorists plan broke down, possibly if the car driver panicked when he saw the town packed with cars or else spotted a police patrol and abandoned the bomb prematurely well away from its intended target.
A security source said: "This group would know that any attempt to create wholesale civilian carnage in Omagh would be counter productive from their viewpoint with the added likelihood that there was a fifty-fifty chance that a victim could be Catholic.
"The terrorists would also not have the opportunity to know which way the crowds were likely to be turned as a result of their warning,'' he added.
The Chief Constable said he could come to no other conclusion but that the security forces were given deliberately misleading information.
Mr Flanagan, who has set up a task force to hunt the killers, has branded the bombing as "bloody murder''.
Visiting the town centre on Saturday night Mr Flanagan said it was not an act carried out against the police or British army or against the peace process it was an attack on the people of Omagh.
Meanwhile the 32-County Sovereignty Movement, a self-styled pressure group demanding British withdrawal, but which denies links with the Real IRA, said last night the killing of innocent people could not be justified.
In a statement the group said: "We are deeply saddened and devastated by the terrible tragedy in Omagh.
"We share the grief and sorrow of everyone on the island of Ireland and we offer our sincere sympathy to the injured, bereaved, their families and friends.''
The statement added: "The killing of innocent people cannot be justified in any circumstances. We are a political movement and are not a military group.
"We reject categorically suggestions which have been made that our movement was responsible in any way.''
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/005
Published Date: 17-Aug-98
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