POLICE HAD RIGHT TO MI5 FILES SAY OMAGH GROUP
Police had right to MI5 files says Omagh group
By Ian Graham, PA
INTELLIGENCE gathered by MI5 before the Omagh bombing was only passed to the police in Northern Ireland earlier this year, families of those killed in the atrocity had confirmed yesterday during talks with Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was among the 29-people murdered by the Real IRA in August 1998, said if the intelligence had been passed on before the attack it might have made a difference.
Mr Gallagher and others who lost loved ones in the bombing, together with a number of those injured, spent two hours in heated discussion with the chief constable.
It was the first time they had met and Mr Gallagher described the discussions as "very long, at times difficult and sometimes very frank".
Speaking on behalf of the group, Mr Gallagher said: "We talked about the way things had been handled, the intelligence, particularly MI5.
"He confirmed that it was only earlier this year that the PSNI was aware of that intelligence for the first time. It was important for us to hear it from the chief constable.
"That was something outside his control, but nevertheless we believe it could have made a difference and the police in Omagh had a right to know that intelligence so that they could at least have have a chance.
"It may or may not have had a bearing on the Omagh bomb but at least it would have raised the state of awareness that there was a bomb attack on its way," Mr Gallagher added.
The families left Sir Hugh in no doubt at their dissatisfaction that nearly eight years after the bombing no-one had yet been convicted of murder.
So far only South Armagh electrician Sean Hoey (36), has been charged with killing those slaughtered in the car bombing. He is due to go on trial in September.
The families are also planning a civil action against several men they believe to be responsible for the attack.
Mr Gallagher said that once the two cases were completed the families would be pressing for a full cross-border public inquiry.
Mr Gallagher said the criminal police investigation must now be coming to the end of its active life and once it and the cases were over the families wanted the inquiry.
They will be pressing the government to commit to one and local politicians to support their call.
"We are not going to stop here, there may be some difficulties, there may be some embarrassment to the governments in the future, but that is for them to deal with," Mr Gallagher said.
Yesterday's meeting went ahead with Sir Hugh, and Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter, the detective in charge of the investigation, weeks after the families failed in a bid to have talks with the head of MI5, Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller.
They had wanted to discuss with her allegations that the security service withheld intelligence months before the bombing that either Omagh or Londonderry were possible targets.
By Ian Graham, PA
INTELLIGENCE gathered by MI5 before the Omagh bombing was only passed to the police in Northern Ireland earlier this year, families of those killed in the atrocity had confirmed yesterday during talks with Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was among the 29-people murdered by the Real IRA in August 1998, said if the intelligence had been passed on before the attack it might have made a difference.
Mr Gallagher and others who lost loved ones in the bombing, together with a number of those injured, spent two hours in heated discussion with the chief constable.
It was the first time they had met and Mr Gallagher described the discussions as "very long, at times difficult and sometimes very frank".
Speaking on behalf of the group, Mr Gallagher said: "We talked about the way things had been handled, the intelligence, particularly MI5.
"He confirmed that it was only earlier this year that the PSNI was aware of that intelligence for the first time. It was important for us to hear it from the chief constable.
"That was something outside his control, but nevertheless we believe it could have made a difference and the police in Omagh had a right to know that intelligence so that they could at least have have a chance.
"It may or may not have had a bearing on the Omagh bomb but at least it would have raised the state of awareness that there was a bomb attack on its way," Mr Gallagher added.
The families left Sir Hugh in no doubt at their dissatisfaction that nearly eight years after the bombing no-one had yet been convicted of murder.
So far only South Armagh electrician Sean Hoey (36), has been charged with killing those slaughtered in the car bombing. He is due to go on trial in September.
The families are also planning a civil action against several men they believe to be responsible for the attack.
Mr Gallagher said that once the two cases were completed the families would be pressing for a full cross-border public inquiry.
Mr Gallagher said the criminal police investigation must now be coming to the end of its active life and once it and the cases were over the families wanted the inquiry.
They will be pressing the government to commit to one and local politicians to support their call.
"We are not going to stop here, there may be some difficulties, there may be some embarrassment to the governments in the future, but that is for them to deal with," Mr Gallagher said.
Yesterday's meeting went ahead with Sir Hugh, and Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter, the detective in charge of the investigation, weeks after the families failed in a bid to have talks with the head of MI5, Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller.
They had wanted to discuss with her allegations that the security service withheld intelligence months before the bombing that either Omagh or Londonderry were possible targets.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0785
Published Date: 04-Apr-06
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