FAIR INVESTIGATION OR COVER-UP? THE AFTERMATH OF THE BOMB
Fair investigation or 'cover-up'?
The aftermath of the bomb...
Sharon O'Neill on the Omagh Controversy
ON August 15 1998, 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, were killed when a Real IRA bomb exploded in Omagh -the worst single atrocity of the troubles.
Over 200 people were injured -some maimed for life - in an attack that caused worldwide revulsion.
United in their hunt for the bombers the Gardai and the RUC vowed to track down those responsible and legislation was introduced on both sides of the border to improve the chances of catching the killers.
It was widely reported at the time that the suspects were known to the authorities but there wasn't enough evidence to bring charges.
So far only one person has been charged in connection with the bombing.
And security chiefs have stressed the difficulties they face in obtaining the evidence needed to bring suspects before the courts.
Indeed, it has been a very testing year for the families of the bereaved and those injured.
They have faced a series of major hurdles in their quest for justice with the biggest blow coming just weeks before Christmas.
Frustrated at the lack of charges, relatives launched an unprecedented civil action against the Real IRA suspects.
There was growing unease about the progress in the police investigation and relatives raised a number of issues over the state of the inquiry with the Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan in May.
Their concerns were heightened further two months later when a double agent, who uses the pseudonym Kevin Fulton, claimed in a newspaper article that he tipped off his police handlers three days before the Omagh attack that the Real IRA was preparing a 'major' bomb destined for Northern Ireland.
Fulton did not give the precise target, but claimed he named the bomb-maker and his location and alleged that Special Branch failed to act on the information.
On the third anniversary of the bombing, Laurence Rush, whose wife Elizabeth was killed in the blast, vented his fury at the lack of progress in the inquiry and interrupted a joint RUC/Gardai press conference in Omagh, accusing the authorities of a "cover-up".
Two days later Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan announced an investigation had been launched into the allegations by Fulton - which were branded by Sir Ronnie as an "outrageous untruth".
A new nightmare subsequently unfolded for relatives when a draft copy of the ombudsman's report was leaked to the media on December 6, which revealed a second warning had been made by an anonymous caller on August 4 of an attack in Omagh on August 15 (the day of the bomb).
An internal review of the investigation launched last year also unearthed a series of flaws in the inquiry.
It is alleged to focus on:
>inadequate resources
>inexperienced staff
>insufficient exchange of information between RUC and Gardai.
Desperate for answers, the anguish of relatives was once again laid bare.
Stanley McCombe, whose wife Ann was killed in the bombing, said: "I have no grievance against the RUC, but I want the truth and I don't care who it hurts."
For Laurence Rush the allegations confirmed his suspicions.
"I and my legal team have always been openly critical of the way the RUC handled this case," he said.
"I believe there are greater forces at work belonging to the security services that are running this case."
The ombudsman's final report was damning and prompted relatives to call for an independent inquiry into the bombing.
The ombudsman was highly critical of the role of Special Branch and senior officers including Sir Ronnie Flanagan and said that victims and their families were let down by a "failure of leadership, poor judgment and a lack of urgency".
Investigators highlighted a number of alleged errors in the investigation, including:
>information in hands of Special Branch had not been available to the review team and has now only been passed on to the investigation team
>the 'bomb car' tracked down by review team was found rusting in a car park
>senior investigation officers refused access to some army and Special Branch videos from south Armagh
>investigators identified 360 intelligence documents within Special Branch which may have been helpful to the Omagh investigation, but 78 per cent was not passed on
>the ombudsman concluded that the evidence of Fulton and the anonymous caller were not subjected to "rigorous analysis"and that suspects identified were not properly investigated.
The ombudsman called for a review of Special Branch and the appointment of a senior independent officer to head the investigation.
But Sir Ronnie swiftly rejected the criticisms - which sparked a major political row - and claimed the report was riddled with inaccuracies.
He said: "If that was a conclusion reached as a result of a rigorous, fair investigation, I would not only resign, I would go and publicly commit suicide."
However, 24 hours later the veteran police chief admitted administrative errors were made during the Omagh investigation.
When asked if the RUC had made mistakes in the investigation and if he was aware of them, he said: "Absolutely, and indeed this investigation is not by any means a perfect investigation."
The Policing Board has promised "not to shirk" its responsibilities on the Omagh report and will hold meetings with Sir Ronnie and Nuala O'Loan.
But as the spotlight returns to the police, in particular Special Branch, will the latest revelations damage the envisaged 'new beginning' to policing?
Political commentator Brian Feeney says: "Ronnie Flanagan is going, there will be a new badge and uniform. People will actually be able to say this year will be a new beginning.
"If the ombudsman's report is implemented in relation to what happened in Omagh and the fact Special Branch held information, then this is in the past.
"If the report isn't implemented then there will be no change."
For Omagh bomb relatives, the truth must be uncovered to end the daily uncertainty that has compounded their heartache.
Sir Ronnie will deliver his response to relatives first before making a public statement.
Families will also hold talks with the Policing Board and will meet British Home Secretary David Blunkett later this month to push for a crackdown on the fundraising activities of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee - widely regarded as the political wing of the Real IRA.
Elizabeth Kyle, whose sister Esther was killed in the bombing, summed up the confusion felt by families.
After reading the ombudsman's report, she said: "I was convinced, but then the chief constable turns round a it is full of untruths. Who are you supposed to believe?"
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden died in the explosion said energies must now be refocused on catching the Real IRA bombers.
"Many people see us as attacking the police. But we are putting them on the grill so that they can put the bombers on the grill," he said.
"There is no question who bombed Omagh, but there are also certain things which we expect from a professional police force. All we want is justice."
The aftermath of the bomb...
Sharon O'Neill on the Omagh Controversy
ON August 15 1998, 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, were killed when a Real IRA bomb exploded in Omagh -the worst single atrocity of the troubles.
Over 200 people were injured -some maimed for life - in an attack that caused worldwide revulsion.
United in their hunt for the bombers the Gardai and the RUC vowed to track down those responsible and legislation was introduced on both sides of the border to improve the chances of catching the killers.
It was widely reported at the time that the suspects were known to the authorities but there wasn't enough evidence to bring charges.
So far only one person has been charged in connection with the bombing.
And security chiefs have stressed the difficulties they face in obtaining the evidence needed to bring suspects before the courts.
Indeed, it has been a very testing year for the families of the bereaved and those injured.
They have faced a series of major hurdles in their quest for justice with the biggest blow coming just weeks before Christmas.
Frustrated at the lack of charges, relatives launched an unprecedented civil action against the Real IRA suspects.
There was growing unease about the progress in the police investigation and relatives raised a number of issues over the state of the inquiry with the Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan in May.
Their concerns were heightened further two months later when a double agent, who uses the pseudonym Kevin Fulton, claimed in a newspaper article that he tipped off his police handlers three days before the Omagh attack that the Real IRA was preparing a 'major' bomb destined for Northern Ireland.
Fulton did not give the precise target, but claimed he named the bomb-maker and his location and alleged that Special Branch failed to act on the information.
On the third anniversary of the bombing, Laurence Rush, whose wife Elizabeth was killed in the blast, vented his fury at the lack of progress in the inquiry and interrupted a joint RUC/Gardai press conference in Omagh, accusing the authorities of a "cover-up".
Two days later Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan announced an investigation had been launched into the allegations by Fulton - which were branded by Sir Ronnie as an "outrageous untruth".
A new nightmare subsequently unfolded for relatives when a draft copy of the ombudsman's report was leaked to the media on December 6, which revealed a second warning had been made by an anonymous caller on August 4 of an attack in Omagh on August 15 (the day of the bomb).
An internal review of the investigation launched last year also unearthed a series of flaws in the inquiry.
It is alleged to focus on:
>inadequate resources
>inexperienced staff
>insufficient exchange of information between RUC and Gardai.
Desperate for answers, the anguish of relatives was once again laid bare.
Stanley McCombe, whose wife Ann was killed in the bombing, said: "I have no grievance against the RUC, but I want the truth and I don't care who it hurts."
For Laurence Rush the allegations confirmed his suspicions.
"I and my legal team have always been openly critical of the way the RUC handled this case," he said.
"I believe there are greater forces at work belonging to the security services that are running this case."
The ombudsman's final report was damning and prompted relatives to call for an independent inquiry into the bombing.
The ombudsman was highly critical of the role of Special Branch and senior officers including Sir Ronnie Flanagan and said that victims and their families were let down by a "failure of leadership, poor judgment and a lack of urgency".
Investigators highlighted a number of alleged errors in the investigation, including:
>information in hands of Special Branch had not been available to the review team and has now only been passed on to the investigation team
>the 'bomb car' tracked down by review team was found rusting in a car park
>senior investigation officers refused access to some army and Special Branch videos from south Armagh
>investigators identified 360 intelligence documents within Special Branch which may have been helpful to the Omagh investigation, but 78 per cent was not passed on
>the ombudsman concluded that the evidence of Fulton and the anonymous caller were not subjected to "rigorous analysis"and that suspects identified were not properly investigated.
The ombudsman called for a review of Special Branch and the appointment of a senior independent officer to head the investigation.
But Sir Ronnie swiftly rejected the criticisms - which sparked a major political row - and claimed the report was riddled with inaccuracies.
He said: "If that was a conclusion reached as a result of a rigorous, fair investigation, I would not only resign, I would go and publicly commit suicide."
However, 24 hours later the veteran police chief admitted administrative errors were made during the Omagh investigation.
When asked if the RUC had made mistakes in the investigation and if he was aware of them, he said: "Absolutely, and indeed this investigation is not by any means a perfect investigation."
The Policing Board has promised "not to shirk" its responsibilities on the Omagh report and will hold meetings with Sir Ronnie and Nuala O'Loan.
But as the spotlight returns to the police, in particular Special Branch, will the latest revelations damage the envisaged 'new beginning' to policing?
Political commentator Brian Feeney says: "Ronnie Flanagan is going, there will be a new badge and uniform. People will actually be able to say this year will be a new beginning.
"If the ombudsman's report is implemented in relation to what happened in Omagh and the fact Special Branch held information, then this is in the past.
"If the report isn't implemented then there will be no change."
For Omagh bomb relatives, the truth must be uncovered to end the daily uncertainty that has compounded their heartache.
Sir Ronnie will deliver his response to relatives first before making a public statement.
Families will also hold talks with the Policing Board and will meet British Home Secretary David Blunkett later this month to push for a crackdown on the fundraising activities of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee - widely regarded as the political wing of the Real IRA.
Elizabeth Kyle, whose sister Esther was killed in the bombing, summed up the confusion felt by families.
After reading the ombudsman's report, she said: "I was convinced, but then the chief constable turns round a it is full of untruths. Who are you supposed to believe?"
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden died in the explosion said energies must now be refocused on catching the Real IRA bombers.
"Many people see us as attacking the police. But we are putting them on the grill so that they can put the bombers on the grill," he said.
"There is no question who bombed Omagh, but there are also certain things which we expect from a professional police force. All we want is justice."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0515
Published Date: 09-Jan-02
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