LEADERSHIP OF THE POLICE
The following is a synopsis of the main criticisms of the Omagh investigation levelled by Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan, followed by the relevant rebuttal presented yesterday by Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan
LEADERSHIP OF THE POLICE
OMBUDSMAN: The report was seen to accuse Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan of 'defective leadership, poor judgement and a lack of urgency'.
PSNI: Its response reads: "The Omagh investigation has been driven forward with energy, professionalism and determination, under the overall guidance and direction of the Chief Constable
"Any impartial and objective assessment could not fail to recognise the high quality of leadership given by the Chief Constable to the Omagh investigation."
The handling of the August 4 anonymous call which warned of a gun attack on police in Omagh
OMBUDSMAN: Criticised special branch for failing to pass on information to police in Omagh about a warning of a gun and bomb attack by Continuity IRA to take place on August 15. Claimed special branch said four persons, C, D, E and F, named by the caller were 'only smugglers'. Claimed police records showed person named as D had been associated with republican paramilitaries in the year before the Omagh bombing.
PSNI: Checks by special branch showed those named by the caller on August 4 had no known links with dissident republicans, however admits D had been seen associating with provisional IRA suspects a year before the bomb.
No credible evidence against any of those named and no legal basis for arresting them for questioning about the Omagh bomb.
Claims ombudsman never interviewed the two special branch officers involved in handling the intelligence, though there was correspondence between the ombudsman investigators and the officers.
Handling of the agent Kevin Fulton's warning of a Real IRA bomb attack on Northern Ireland
OMBUDSMAN: No record of meeting between Fulton and his handler could be found in special branch despite CID claims the information was passed on. Fulton claims to have alerted his police handler of an imminent Real IRA attack and allegedly named the bombmaker, known as 'A'.
Role of 'A' not fully investigated despite alleged telephone call made from -'A's mobile phone on the day of the bombing, in addition to Fulton's tip-off.
PSNI: FuIton was not a reliable source. Formal document from "another agency" recorded Fulton's unreliability.
Admits details of two meetings between Fulton and handler (23 July and 12 August 1998) were not passed on to special branch because of an administrative error. This represented a unacceptable breakdown in procedures.
LEADERSHIP OF THE POLICE
OMBUDSMAN: The report was seen to accuse Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan of 'defective leadership, poor judgement and a lack of urgency'.
PSNI: Its response reads: "The Omagh investigation has been driven forward with energy, professionalism and determination, under the overall guidance and direction of the Chief Constable
"Any impartial and objective assessment could not fail to recognise the high quality of leadership given by the Chief Constable to the Omagh investigation."
The handling of the August 4 anonymous call which warned of a gun attack on police in Omagh
OMBUDSMAN: Criticised special branch for failing to pass on information to police in Omagh about a warning of a gun and bomb attack by Continuity IRA to take place on August 15. Claimed special branch said four persons, C, D, E and F, named by the caller were 'only smugglers'. Claimed police records showed person named as D had been associated with republican paramilitaries in the year before the Omagh bombing.
PSNI: Checks by special branch showed those named by the caller on August 4 had no known links with dissident republicans, however admits D had been seen associating with provisional IRA suspects a year before the bomb.
No credible evidence against any of those named and no legal basis for arresting them for questioning about the Omagh bomb.
Claims ombudsman never interviewed the two special branch officers involved in handling the intelligence, though there was correspondence between the ombudsman investigators and the officers.
Handling of the agent Kevin Fulton's warning of a Real IRA bomb attack on Northern Ireland
OMBUDSMAN: No record of meeting between Fulton and his handler could be found in special branch despite CID claims the information was passed on. Fulton claims to have alerted his police handler of an imminent Real IRA attack and allegedly named the bombmaker, known as 'A'.
Role of 'A' not fully investigated despite alleged telephone call made from -'A's mobile phone on the day of the bombing, in addition to Fulton's tip-off.
PSNI: FuIton was not a reliable source. Formal document from "another agency" recorded Fulton's unreliability.
Admits details of two meetings between Fulton and handler (23 July and 12 August 1998) were not passed on to special branch because of an administrative error. This represented a unacceptable breakdown in procedures.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0523
Published Date: 25-Jan-02
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