FAMILY OF VICTIM SLAM POLICE OVER INVESTIGATION
Family of victim slam police over investigation
By Kieran McDaid
THE FAMILY of Omagh bomb victim Gareth Conway has described the conviction of the one man charged in connection with the atrocity as "far from safe".
The family also revealed that police officers re-took their witness statements in recent months.
Speaking for the first time since the August 1998 bomb, the family of the 18-year-old student from Co Tyrone slammed the police handling of the investigation.
In a letter to the Irish News, the family says it has been left with "more questions than answers" and that the conviction in Dublin on Tuesday of Colm Murphy for his part in the bombing was not "a good day for victims".
"We are not, and never have been, satisfied with the manner the Royal Ulster Constabulary/Special Branch has handled the Omagh bomb and have not at all been surprised by the contents of the report issued by Nuala O'Loan.
"The fact that only a few months ago, RUC officers called to our home to re-take witness statements was confusing and upsetting, even more so when we hear that the original statements may have gone missing.
"Like many people who have had to deal with this force, we are left with more questions than answers."
The Conway family from Carrickmore in Co Tyrone also expressed fears that the conviction of Colm Murphy was unsafe.
"As far as we are aware, Murphy was convicted as a result of less than reliable confessions and the fact that a mobile phone registered in his
name was used on the route the investigation team believe the bombers used.
"Neither does it hearten us that a British-style Diplock court was used to secure what on the face of it seems a far from safe conviction. For what it is worth, it does not make us feel any better," they added.
The Conways also hit out at "those who have readily assumed a profile in the media since the summer of 1998", insisting they "do not speak for us".
By Kieran McDaid
THE FAMILY of Omagh bomb victim Gareth Conway has described the conviction of the one man charged in connection with the atrocity as "far from safe".
The family also revealed that police officers re-took their witness statements in recent months.
Speaking for the first time since the August 1998 bomb, the family of the 18-year-old student from Co Tyrone slammed the police handling of the investigation.
In a letter to the Irish News, the family says it has been left with "more questions than answers" and that the conviction in Dublin on Tuesday of Colm Murphy for his part in the bombing was not "a good day for victims".
"We are not, and never have been, satisfied with the manner the Royal Ulster Constabulary/Special Branch has handled the Omagh bomb and have not at all been surprised by the contents of the report issued by Nuala O'Loan.
"The fact that only a few months ago, RUC officers called to our home to re-take witness statements was confusing and upsetting, even more so when we hear that the original statements may have gone missing.
"Like many people who have had to deal with this force, we are left with more questions than answers."
The Conway family from Carrickmore in Co Tyrone also expressed fears that the conviction of Colm Murphy was unsafe.
"As far as we are aware, Murphy was convicted as a result of less than reliable confessions and the fact that a mobile phone registered in his
name was used on the route the investigation team believe the bombers used.
"Neither does it hearten us that a British-style Diplock court was used to secure what on the face of it seems a far from safe conviction. For what it is worth, it does not make us feel any better," they added.
The Conways also hit out at "those who have readily assumed a profile in the media since the summer of 1998", insisting they "do not speak for us".
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0529
Published Date: 25-Jan-02
Related Images
