OMAGH DISAPPOINTED AND DIVIDED AT POLICE REPORT
Omagh disappointed and divided at police report
By Maeve Connolly
in Omagh
THE relatives arrived one by one. They picked their way through the throng of TVcameras and waiting journalists. Most simply put their heads down and walked on, some stopped to answer questions. "We'll wait and see" was the response to queries of what they hoped to hear in their meeting with the Chief Constable.
The mood was different when they spoke to reporters almost five hours later.
Looking physically drained, the strain of a day spent probing the investigation of their loved ones' deaths was written on their faces. As the relatives gathered on the hotel steps a helicopter hovering in the sky made it difficult to hear the speakers, but their confusion and disappointment was clear.
Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Aidan, declared he had had no satisfaction from the meeting, while William Gibson whose daughter Esther was killed in the explosion said he felt disappointed.
In Omagh town itself, on a day which again saw it at the centre of huge media attention, the mood was sombre.
The streets were empty in the early morning but by lunchtime shoppers were creating a stir.
Mums pushed their children in buggies, elderly ladies bought the ingredients for soup in the Salad Bowl and sneezing patients queued for prescriptions in chemists.
Opinion was divided as to whether yesterday's response to the ombudsman's report would move things forward.
There were those who said raking up the past solved little, but others were desperate for answers.
Teresa Hughes works in a shoe shop on Market Street. She was working in Omagh on August 15 1998, a day she says she will never forget.
"We would like answers to the questions. It's very difficult for the families, they, have gone through so much and it's dragging on an awful long time, but hopefully this is the end of it now.
"Everyone is aware of what is happening today but we have to get on with life and work. But it's something we don't ever forget," she added.
John Donnelly is the owner of the Salad Bowl in Market Square. The entire building which housed the fruit and vegetable shop was destroyed in the bomb and after spending the last few years in a temporary location he reopened his doors just six weeks before Christmas.
He said while people in the town were aware of yesterday's meeting between Sir Ronnie and relatives of those killed, many simply felt they had to "get on with things".
Omagh-man Liam Queally spoke of his confusion as to where the truth lay and said he was certain Sir Ronnie would have made a strong case to the relatives.
He said he was tired of Omagh only making headlines because of the 1998 bomb and felt that raking up the past only added to families' misery.
In his response to the police ombudsman's report, Sir Ronnie Flanagan said that while the police service accepted errors were made in aspects of the investigation it would not accept the majority of the criticisms.
Nuala O'Loan's report slated the police for "defective leadership, poor judgement and a lack of urgency" which, it claimed, hampered the investigation into the bombing, but Sir Ronnie refuted the allegations.
"These accusations are rejected absolutely. The investigation has been driven forward with energy, professionalism and determination," his response stated.
Sir Ronnie yesterday told reporters his meeting with the relatives had not been an opportunity to defend an individual or organisation's reputation and stressed that his main concern was, and always had been, the victims.
As their relatives filed away from the hotel they looked more confused than ever.
The weak January sunshine fell on them and or a town which still has a long way to go to escape its past.
By Maeve Connolly
in Omagh
THE relatives arrived one by one. They picked their way through the throng of TVcameras and waiting journalists. Most simply put their heads down and walked on, some stopped to answer questions. "We'll wait and see" was the response to queries of what they hoped to hear in their meeting with the Chief Constable.
The mood was different when they spoke to reporters almost five hours later.
Looking physically drained, the strain of a day spent probing the investigation of their loved ones' deaths was written on their faces. As the relatives gathered on the hotel steps a helicopter hovering in the sky made it difficult to hear the speakers, but their confusion and disappointment was clear.
Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Aidan, declared he had had no satisfaction from the meeting, while William Gibson whose daughter Esther was killed in the explosion said he felt disappointed.
In Omagh town itself, on a day which again saw it at the centre of huge media attention, the mood was sombre.
The streets were empty in the early morning but by lunchtime shoppers were creating a stir.
Mums pushed their children in buggies, elderly ladies bought the ingredients for soup in the Salad Bowl and sneezing patients queued for prescriptions in chemists.
Opinion was divided as to whether yesterday's response to the ombudsman's report would move things forward.
There were those who said raking up the past solved little, but others were desperate for answers.
Teresa Hughes works in a shoe shop on Market Street. She was working in Omagh on August 15 1998, a day she says she will never forget.
"We would like answers to the questions. It's very difficult for the families, they, have gone through so much and it's dragging on an awful long time, but hopefully this is the end of it now.
"Everyone is aware of what is happening today but we have to get on with life and work. But it's something we don't ever forget," she added.
John Donnelly is the owner of the Salad Bowl in Market Square. The entire building which housed the fruit and vegetable shop was destroyed in the bomb and after spending the last few years in a temporary location he reopened his doors just six weeks before Christmas.
He said while people in the town were aware of yesterday's meeting between Sir Ronnie and relatives of those killed, many simply felt they had to "get on with things".
Omagh-man Liam Queally spoke of his confusion as to where the truth lay and said he was certain Sir Ronnie would have made a strong case to the relatives.
He said he was tired of Omagh only making headlines because of the 1998 bomb and felt that raking up the past only added to families' misery.
In his response to the police ombudsman's report, Sir Ronnie Flanagan said that while the police service accepted errors were made in aspects of the investigation it would not accept the majority of the criticisms.
Nuala O'Loan's report slated the police for "defective leadership, poor judgement and a lack of urgency" which, it claimed, hampered the investigation into the bombing, but Sir Ronnie refuted the allegations.
"These accusations are rejected absolutely. The investigation has been driven forward with energy, professionalism and determination," his response stated.
Sir Ronnie yesterday told reporters his meeting with the relatives had not been an opportunity to defend an individual or organisation's reputation and stressed that his main concern was, and always had been, the victims.
As their relatives filed away from the hotel they looked more confused than ever.
The weak January sunshine fell on them and or a town which still has a long way to go to escape its past.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0527
Published Date: 25-Jan-02
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