FLANAGAN SETS DATE FOR OMAGH MEETING
Flanagan sets date for Omagh meeting
By Sharon O'Neill
CHIEF Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan will personally deliver his response to the damning report on the RUC's handling of the Omagh bomb investigation to relatives on January 24.
He will address families of those killed and injured in the 1998 Real IRA attack at an undisclosed location in Omagh.
Sir Ronnie is expected to give a detailed account of police actions following the highly critical report by Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan.
Mrs O'Loan's investigation was prompted by a double agent's claim that he tipped off his police handlers of an imminent Real IRA bombing planned for Northern Ireland. The inquiry led to the discovery of a second warning by an anonymous caller of a rocket and gun attack planned for Omagh on August 15 (the day of the bomb).
The ombudsman's report, which sparked a public row between Mrs O'Loan and Sir Ronnie, called for a review of Special Branch by an independent senior investigator.
Sir Ronnie - who has strongly rejected the criticism - has already admitted that administrative errors were made during the investigation.
News of his imminent meeting with relatives before he makes his response public came as the Omagh Self-Help and Support Group - consisting of a number of relatives - held talks last night to discuss latest developments.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was killed in the bombing, said the meeting was likely to be heated as families demanded answers.
"The chief constable has now created an opportunity to come to Omagh on January 24 and tell families where he thinks Nuala O'Loan has got it wrong," he said.
"I'm sure given the emotion surrounding it, it will at times be a difficult meeting.
"We believed the police did everything in their power to get justice. But this report seems to suggest that more could have been done and opportunities missed. There is no doubt they have questions to answer."
Relatives are to hold talks with the Policing Board and will meet British home secretary David Blunkett later this month in a bid to stop fundraising activities for the 32-County Sovereignty Movement - the political wing of the Real IRA.
The Policing Board has already pledged "not to shirk" its responsibilities over the report and is to meet Sir Ronnie and Mrs O'Loan.
Meanwhile, it emerged last night that Sir Ronnie will not retire for at least another eight months.
The chief constable gave the Policing Board the required three months notice at the end of November, but it not expected to step down until September at the earliest.
By Sharon O'Neill
CHIEF Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan will personally deliver his response to the damning report on the RUC's handling of the Omagh bomb investigation to relatives on January 24.
He will address families of those killed and injured in the 1998 Real IRA attack at an undisclosed location in Omagh.
Sir Ronnie is expected to give a detailed account of police actions following the highly critical report by Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan.
Mrs O'Loan's investigation was prompted by a double agent's claim that he tipped off his police handlers of an imminent Real IRA bombing planned for Northern Ireland. The inquiry led to the discovery of a second warning by an anonymous caller of a rocket and gun attack planned for Omagh on August 15 (the day of the bomb).
The ombudsman's report, which sparked a public row between Mrs O'Loan and Sir Ronnie, called for a review of Special Branch by an independent senior investigator.
Sir Ronnie - who has strongly rejected the criticism - has already admitted that administrative errors were made during the investigation.
News of his imminent meeting with relatives before he makes his response public came as the Omagh Self-Help and Support Group - consisting of a number of relatives - held talks last night to discuss latest developments.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was killed in the bombing, said the meeting was likely to be heated as families demanded answers.
"The chief constable has now created an opportunity to come to Omagh on January 24 and tell families where he thinks Nuala O'Loan has got it wrong," he said.
"I'm sure given the emotion surrounding it, it will at times be a difficult meeting.
"We believed the police did everything in their power to get justice. But this report seems to suggest that more could have been done and opportunities missed. There is no doubt they have questions to answer."
Relatives are to hold talks with the Policing Board and will meet British home secretary David Blunkett later this month in a bid to stop fundraising activities for the 32-County Sovereignty Movement - the political wing of the Real IRA.
The Policing Board has already pledged "not to shirk" its responsibilities over the report and is to meet Sir Ronnie and Mrs O'Loan.
Meanwhile, it emerged last night that Sir Ronnie will not retire for at least another eight months.
The chief constable gave the Policing Board the required three months notice at the end of November, but it not expected to step down until September at the earliest.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0514
Published Date: 09-Jan-02
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