JOINT MEETING COULD HELP FIND BOMB TRUTH
Joint meeting 'could help find bomb truth'
By Anne Madden
A RELATIVE of one of the Omagh bomb victims has called for the Northern Ireland chief constable and police ombudsman to hold a joint meeting with families to discuss the controversial report.
Elizabeth Kyle, whose sister Esther was killed in the 1998 explosion, suggested the two figures should meet together to discuss the details contained in the ombudsman's report.
"They are each very adamant of their cases. I would like to get both of them in a room together and have all the facts hammered out," she said last night.
Ms Kyle said she was convinced by the police ombudsman, Nuala O'Loan's stinging criticism of the police investigation when she presented her report to the Omagh victims' families last Wednesday.
"I was convinced, I think all of us were, but then the chief constable turns round and says it is full of untruths. Who are you supposed to believe?" she asked.
Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan has said he will meet the families when he delivers his response to the report in January.
However, Ms Kyle said last night: "If we are left none the wiser after he (Sir Ronnie) gives his response, then I think there should be a joint meeting where they both discuss the evidence with us."
The ombudsman's report claimed defective leadership, poor judgment and a lack of urgency undermined efforts to catch the Real IRA bombers.
But the chief constable hit back at the report which he claimed had reached "distorted conclusions" and had been carried out by investigators with no experience of terrorist activity.
Relatives have demanded a full public inquiry into the revelations and early meetings with the British prime minister and Taoiseach.
Michael Gallagher, spokesman for the Omagh support and self-help group, said: "It is important that everybody's views are heard."
"Sir Ronnie believes the ombudsman has got it wrong and this is an opportunity for him to tell us where she got it wrong."
Members of the new Policing Board are to meet this week for preliminary discussions about the unprecedented row between Sir Ronnie and Mrs O'Loan, which has left people in Omagh stunned and confused.
By Anne Madden
A RELATIVE of one of the Omagh bomb victims has called for the Northern Ireland chief constable and police ombudsman to hold a joint meeting with families to discuss the controversial report.
Elizabeth Kyle, whose sister Esther was killed in the 1998 explosion, suggested the two figures should meet together to discuss the details contained in the ombudsman's report.
"They are each very adamant of their cases. I would like to get both of them in a room together and have all the facts hammered out," she said last night.
Ms Kyle said she was convinced by the police ombudsman, Nuala O'Loan's stinging criticism of the police investigation when she presented her report to the Omagh victims' families last Wednesday.
"I was convinced, I think all of us were, but then the chief constable turns round and says it is full of untruths. Who are you supposed to believe?" she asked.
Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan has said he will meet the families when he delivers his response to the report in January.
However, Ms Kyle said last night: "If we are left none the wiser after he (Sir Ronnie) gives his response, then I think there should be a joint meeting where they both discuss the evidence with us."
The ombudsman's report claimed defective leadership, poor judgment and a lack of urgency undermined efforts to catch the Real IRA bombers.
But the chief constable hit back at the report which he claimed had reached "distorted conclusions" and had been carried out by investigators with no experience of terrorist activity.
Relatives have demanded a full public inquiry into the revelations and early meetings with the British prime minister and Taoiseach.
Michael Gallagher, spokesman for the Omagh support and self-help group, said: "It is important that everybody's views are heard."
"Sir Ronnie believes the ombudsman has got it wrong and this is an opportunity for him to tell us where she got it wrong."
Members of the new Policing Board are to meet this week for preliminary discussions about the unprecedented row between Sir Ronnie and Mrs O'Loan, which has left people in Omagh stunned and confused.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0512
Published Date: 17-Dec-01
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