INDEPENDANT OFFICER OUR ONLY CHANCE
Independent officer 'our only chance'
ANGRY Omagh bomb relatives have demanded that a new officer take charge of the inquiry into the August 1998 outrage.
In a letter to the outgoing Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan they said: "We feel an independent senior investigation officer is our only chance in gaining criminal prosecutions."
Even though police on both sides of the Irish border claim they have identified the bomb team responsible, nobody has been charged with murder.
A deputy or assistant chief constable from a force in Britain is being called in to oversee the inquiry. It is being headed up by Merseyside Detective Chief Superintendent Philip Jones and Superintendent Brian McArthur, who will retain operational command.
Mr McArthur has just been promoted to take charge of police service of Northern Ireland's north region.
Detective Chief Superintendent Brian McVicker is due to retire from the force at the end of next month.
But a number of the Omagh relatives remain deeply unhappy with the future direction of the investigation.
In their letter to Sir Ronnie, who has been appointed as one of two new Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary, the relatives said: "For three and a half years we have waited on results of the Omagh bomb investigation. We know the current investigation to be flawed and have lost all confidence. We as bereaved families now want and feel an independent senior investigation officer is our only chance in gaining criminal prosecutions.
ANGRY Omagh bomb relatives have demanded that a new officer take charge of the inquiry into the August 1998 outrage.
In a letter to the outgoing Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan they said: "We feel an independent senior investigation officer is our only chance in gaining criminal prosecutions."
Even though police on both sides of the Irish border claim they have identified the bomb team responsible, nobody has been charged with murder.
A deputy or assistant chief constable from a force in Britain is being called in to oversee the inquiry. It is being headed up by Merseyside Detective Chief Superintendent Philip Jones and Superintendent Brian McArthur, who will retain operational command.
Mr McArthur has just been promoted to take charge of police service of Northern Ireland's north region.
Detective Chief Superintendent Brian McVicker is due to retire from the force at the end of next month.
But a number of the Omagh relatives remain deeply unhappy with the future direction of the investigation.
In their letter to Sir Ronnie, who has been appointed as one of two new Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary, the relatives said: "For three and a half years we have waited on results of the Omagh bomb investigation. We know the current investigation to be flawed and have lost all confidence. We as bereaved families now want and feel an independent senior investigation officer is our only chance in gaining criminal prosecutions.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0547
Published Date: 20-Feb-02
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