POLICE LINK UP TO HUNT OMAGH BOMBING GANG
Police link up to hunt Omagh bombing gang
By TOM BRADY, Security Editor
A JOINT assessment of the threat posed by republican splinter groups to the peace process has been carried out by senior police officers from the Garda, RUC and Scotland Yard at a security summit in Dublin.
The three police forces have agreed to pool resources to track down the terrorists responsible for the Omagh bombing atrocity and other crimes committed by the gang known as the Real IRA.
The joint action was authorised after a day-long meeting chaired by Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne, RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan and Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist chief, Assistant Commissioner David Veness.
The three men emphasised at the summit that the hunt for the Omagh bombers would be relentless and they would not be deflected from their inquiries by the decision of the Real IRA to decline a ceasefire.
A senior security source said later that the police chiefs agreed that the ceasefire declaration should be treated with caution.
"They need to produce proof that their motives are genuine before the declaration can be taken at face value." the source said.
Commissioner Byrne, who was accompanied by his two main security advisers. Deputy Commissioner Noel Conroy and Assistant Commissioner Pat O'Toole, briefed the two visiting policemen on the inquiries being curried out here into the logistical support being provided for the Omagh killers.
Recent intelligence compiled by Anti-terrorist officers from the three forces was shared at the summit as part of the joint assessment of the threat currently posed by the Continuity IRA and the possibility of those who hail defected from the Continuity to the Real IRA now moving back again as a result of the hitter's ceasefire.
The police chiefs also examined the implications for their forces of the tough new legislation enacted here and in Northern Ireland and Britain last week and how it should be implemented.
Meanwhile, a man arrested by Gardai at his home in Donnycarney in Dublin on Monday was still being questioned by detectives at Carrickmacross last night about providing stolen vehicles to the Real IRA.
His period of extension was extended by the district court in Carrickmacross on Tuesday night and a decision on the suspect's fate is expected lo be taken early today.
By TOM BRADY, Security Editor
A JOINT assessment of the threat posed by republican splinter groups to the peace process has been carried out by senior police officers from the Garda, RUC and Scotland Yard at a security summit in Dublin.
The three police forces have agreed to pool resources to track down the terrorists responsible for the Omagh bombing atrocity and other crimes committed by the gang known as the Real IRA.
The joint action was authorised after a day-long meeting chaired by Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne, RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan and Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist chief, Assistant Commissioner David Veness.
The three men emphasised at the summit that the hunt for the Omagh bombers would be relentless and they would not be deflected from their inquiries by the decision of the Real IRA to decline a ceasefire.
A senior security source said later that the police chiefs agreed that the ceasefire declaration should be treated with caution.
"They need to produce proof that their motives are genuine before the declaration can be taken at face value." the source said.
Commissioner Byrne, who was accompanied by his two main security advisers. Deputy Commissioner Noel Conroy and Assistant Commissioner Pat O'Toole, briefed the two visiting policemen on the inquiries being curried out here into the logistical support being provided for the Omagh killers.
Recent intelligence compiled by Anti-terrorist officers from the three forces was shared at the summit as part of the joint assessment of the threat currently posed by the Continuity IRA and the possibility of those who hail defected from the Continuity to the Real IRA now moving back again as a result of the hitter's ceasefire.
The police chiefs also examined the implications for their forces of the tough new legislation enacted here and in Northern Ireland and Britain last week and how it should be implemented.
Meanwhile, a man arrested by Gardai at his home in Donnycarney in Dublin on Monday was still being questioned by detectives at Carrickmacross last night about providing stolen vehicles to the Real IRA.
His period of extension was extended by the district court in Carrickmacross on Tuesday night and a decision on the suspect's fate is expected lo be taken early today.
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/150
Published Date: 10-Sep-98
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