FLANAGAN'S OMAGH APOLOGY
Flanagan's Omagh apology
By Staff Reporter
FORMER chief constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan has for the first time publicly apologised for the fact that no-one has been "brought to justice" for the Omagh bombing.
He was speaking just minutes after he refused to say sorry in a meeting with Victor Barker, whose 12-year-old son James was among the victims of the August 1998 Real IRA atrocity.
Mr Barker said that during their meeting in Surrey, Sir Ronnie would not apologise for mistakes made by police officers who investigated the
atrocity which killed 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins.
But while leaving, Sir Ronnie told journalists: "I absolutely apologise to those families in Omagh and I feel desperately sorry that we have not to this point brought people to justice for that attack.
"I publicly apologise to all those families and all those victims and all those who were injured without reservation."
Mr Barker described the apology as "some progress" but said he still wanted Sir Ronnie to resign as head of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.
"He did not apologise to me and I was very cross with him. He only apologised outside when there was pressure from the cameras," he said.
In a damning judgment in December when Mr Justice Weir cleared Sean Hoey, the only suspect charged in the north, the Belfast Crown Court judge was highly critical of the original police investigation.
By Staff Reporter
FORMER chief constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan has for the first time publicly apologised for the fact that no-one has been "brought to justice" for the Omagh bombing.
He was speaking just minutes after he refused to say sorry in a meeting with Victor Barker, whose 12-year-old son James was among the victims of the August 1998 Real IRA atrocity.
Mr Barker said that during their meeting in Surrey, Sir Ronnie would not apologise for mistakes made by police officers who investigated the
atrocity which killed 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins.
But while leaving, Sir Ronnie told journalists: "I absolutely apologise to those families in Omagh and I feel desperately sorry that we have not to this point brought people to justice for that attack.
"I publicly apologise to all those families and all those victims and all those who were injured without reservation."
Mr Barker described the apology as "some progress" but said he still wanted Sir Ronnie to resign as head of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.
"He did not apologise to me and I was very cross with him. He only apologised outside when there was pressure from the cameras," he said.
In a damning judgment in December when Mr Justice Weir cleared Sean Hoey, the only suspect charged in the north, the Belfast Crown Court judge was highly critical of the original police investigation.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0892
Published Date: 24-Jan-08
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