OMAGH CRIES FOR JUSTICE
Omagh cries for justice
SUCH was the widespread shock and revulsion at the Omagh bomb that few would have expected that, four years on, the perpetrators of this diabolical crime would still be at large.
In the weeks and months after the attack, the British and Irish governments promised draconian legislation, while the RUC and Garda Siochana pledged to do their utmost to ensure that the Real IRA could not commit mass murder and get away with it.
So deep was the outrage and anger at this terrible crime and so powerful the mood throughout this island and beyond, that many people genuinely believed that the bombers would be quickly brought to justice.
But, despite being told that the police know who carried out this atrocity, there has been only one successful conviction in connection with the bombing and the focus has switched to the investigation of the attack.
Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan delivered a damning report into the conduct of the inquiry and it is accepted that mistakes were made.
Two senior officers from Merseyside are now overseeing the inquiry.
In an interview with this newspaper yesterday, Assistant Chief Constable Sam Kinkaid, who now leads the latest Omagh investigation, said he believes the relatives of the dead have been victimised twice over, firstly by the killers and secondly by the criminal justice system, including the police.
Mr Kinkaid will now have to try to rebuild trust in the inquiry and he and his team have considerable ground to make up.
While there is little optimism that the bombers will be held to account through the criminal courts, the police on both sides of the border must never relent in their pursuit of these murderers.
The recently launched civil action is a significant development, but must be regarded as a separate issue to the criminal inquiry which offers the only real hope that the bombers will he imprisoned for a long time.
The fourth anniversary of Omagh is on Thursday.
There will be nothing but heartfelt sympathy for the relatives of the dead, who have suffered an unimaginable loss, and for those who continue to suffer from their injuries.
What is particularly chilling is that the organisation which carried out this horrific deed continues to kill and maim.
There is no justification for the Real IRA's evil campaign and if they and their followers had any shred of conscience they would halt immediately.
This week's anniversary will remind us of the shocking crime inflicted on Omagh in August 1998.
We must never forget what happened on that terrible day and the pursuit of those who killed so many must continue until the families finally achieve justice.
SUCH was the widespread shock and revulsion at the Omagh bomb that few would have expected that, four years on, the perpetrators of this diabolical crime would still be at large.
In the weeks and months after the attack, the British and Irish governments promised draconian legislation, while the RUC and Garda Siochana pledged to do their utmost to ensure that the Real IRA could not commit mass murder and get away with it.
So deep was the outrage and anger at this terrible crime and so powerful the mood throughout this island and beyond, that many people genuinely believed that the bombers would be quickly brought to justice.
But, despite being told that the police know who carried out this atrocity, there has been only one successful conviction in connection with the bombing and the focus has switched to the investigation of the attack.
Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan delivered a damning report into the conduct of the inquiry and it is accepted that mistakes were made.
Two senior officers from Merseyside are now overseeing the inquiry.
In an interview with this newspaper yesterday, Assistant Chief Constable Sam Kinkaid, who now leads the latest Omagh investigation, said he believes the relatives of the dead have been victimised twice over, firstly by the killers and secondly by the criminal justice system, including the police.
Mr Kinkaid will now have to try to rebuild trust in the inquiry and he and his team have considerable ground to make up.
While there is little optimism that the bombers will be held to account through the criminal courts, the police on both sides of the border must never relent in their pursuit of these murderers.
The recently launched civil action is a significant development, but must be regarded as a separate issue to the criminal inquiry which offers the only real hope that the bombers will he imprisoned for a long time.
The fourth anniversary of Omagh is on Thursday.
There will be nothing but heartfelt sympathy for the relatives of the dead, who have suffered an unimaginable loss, and for those who continue to suffer from their injuries.
What is particularly chilling is that the organisation which carried out this horrific deed continues to kill and maim.
There is no justification for the Real IRA's evil campaign and if they and their followers had any shred of conscience they would halt immediately.
This week's anniversary will remind us of the shocking crime inflicted on Omagh in August 1998.
We must never forget what happened on that terrible day and the pursuit of those who killed so many must continue until the families finally achieve justice.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0571
Published Date: 15-Aug-02
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