UNCONVINCED
Unconvinced
Public inquiry appeal
THERE were calls for a full public inquiry into the handling of the Omagh bomb investigation last night after Sir Ronnie Flanagan failed to secure the support of the bereaved families.
Many of the relatives of those killed in the 1998 Real IRA blast said they remained 'unhappy' and 'disappointed' despite a five-hour meeting with the chief constable.
One relative, Lawrence Rush said: "Sir Ronnie, great PR man that he is, has lost the battle."
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was killed in the blast, said: "We are by no means happy with what we heard."
Sir Ronnie met with more than 100 relatives of the 29 people and unborn twins killed in the attack.
He was responding six-weeks after a scathing report by Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan listed a catalogue of serious flaws in the police investigation.
Sir Ronnie yesterday vigorously defended police actions and accused Mrs O'Loan of causing great hurt to the PSNI and inflicting unnecessary anxiety on the relatives.
He said he found the relatives and survivors of the bomb "incredibly courteous and incredibly patient" but admitted the meeting was probably the most difficult in his 30 year career.
Mrs O'Loan last night stood by her report and said there were "clear disagreements on fundamental matters of fact" between the ombudsman's office and the PSNI.
But she added: "The bombing was a massive atrocity and the responsibility on the RUC/PSNI was awesome. In so many ways they deserve credit for much of what they have done.
"It would not have been right of me to minimise, or be deflected from making criticism of the failures and deficiencies which we found over the past months."
The Policing Board will meet the families in Omagh on Monday. Sir Ronnie and Mrs O'Loan are to address the board on February 5.
Mrs O'Loan said the board must decide whether to back her call for an officer from outside Northern Ireland to takeover the Omagh investigation or support Sir Ronnie's intention of appointing an 'adviser' from Merseyside police.
In the aftermath of the meeting between Sir Ronnie and the Omagh families represented at the event, relatives called for an inquiry into the handling of the case. Michael Gallagher later said the families considered 'withdrawing support' for the police investigation but would now take time to make a considered response.
Several of the Omagh families are to travel to Dublin today to see Colm Murphy sentenced following his conviction earlier this week of conspiracy to cause the Omagh explosion.
Public inquiry appeal
THERE were calls for a full public inquiry into the handling of the Omagh bomb investigation last night after Sir Ronnie Flanagan failed to secure the support of the bereaved families.
Many of the relatives of those killed in the 1998 Real IRA blast said they remained 'unhappy' and 'disappointed' despite a five-hour meeting with the chief constable.
One relative, Lawrence Rush said: "Sir Ronnie, great PR man that he is, has lost the battle."
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was killed in the blast, said: "We are by no means happy with what we heard."
Sir Ronnie met with more than 100 relatives of the 29 people and unborn twins killed in the attack.
He was responding six-weeks after a scathing report by Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan listed a catalogue of serious flaws in the police investigation.
Sir Ronnie yesterday vigorously defended police actions and accused Mrs O'Loan of causing great hurt to the PSNI and inflicting unnecessary anxiety on the relatives.
He said he found the relatives and survivors of the bomb "incredibly courteous and incredibly patient" but admitted the meeting was probably the most difficult in his 30 year career.
Mrs O'Loan last night stood by her report and said there were "clear disagreements on fundamental matters of fact" between the ombudsman's office and the PSNI.
But she added: "The bombing was a massive atrocity and the responsibility on the RUC/PSNI was awesome. In so many ways they deserve credit for much of what they have done.
"It would not have been right of me to minimise, or be deflected from making criticism of the failures and deficiencies which we found over the past months."
The Policing Board will meet the families in Omagh on Monday. Sir Ronnie and Mrs O'Loan are to address the board on February 5.
Mrs O'Loan said the board must decide whether to back her call for an officer from outside Northern Ireland to takeover the Omagh investigation or support Sir Ronnie's intention of appointing an 'adviser' from Merseyside police.
In the aftermath of the meeting between Sir Ronnie and the Omagh families represented at the event, relatives called for an inquiry into the handling of the case. Michael Gallagher later said the families considered 'withdrawing support' for the police investigation but would now take time to make a considered response.
Several of the Omagh families are to travel to Dublin today to see Colm Murphy sentenced following his conviction earlier this week of conspiracy to cause the Omagh explosion.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0521
Published Date: 25-Jan-02
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