OMAGH BOMB RELATIVES CLAIM BERTIE AHERN BETRAYED THEM
Omagh bomb relatives claim Bertie Ahern betrayed them
By Suzanne McGonagle
RELATIVES of those killed in the Omagh bombing have accused Taoiseach Bertie Ahern of betraying them. Some of the families also claim that the Irish government has turned its back on them ahead of a civil action the relatives are taking against five men they believe are responsible for the atrocity.
The claims are made in an RTE One documentary to be broadcast tonight. Last December, the families' hopes of a criminal prosecution were destroyed when Sean Hoey, the only man accused of the murders of the 29 people including a woman pregnant with unborn twins in the 1998 bomb attack, was cleared.
However, some of the families now believe the civil action against the men - including Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt and Colm Murphy - is their only chance of justice.
The relatives also see the civil action as "a challenge to the British, American and Irish governments who all pledged back in 1998 to leave no stone unturned in the hunt for the bombers".
Entitled Letter of the Law and made by Belfast-based production company Below the Radar, the documentary will show families claim that although authorities in Northern Ireland are backing their action, their counterparts in the Republic are failing to help.
Footage from a speech Mr Ahern made to the Dail in 1998 shows him declare his government's assistance to the families of those killed.
"They should be in no doubt about our determination to do everything we can to assist in bringing the perpetrators of this terrible crime to justice," he said.
"We are determined that the people of this island, north and south, will enjoy the peace they democratically endorsed and that the victims of Omagh will have justice."
However, Michael Gallagher whose son Aidan was killed in the bomb, said: "We have had continuous promise after promise, even from the taoiseach himself last week saying they would do everything possible. But in reality the substance is very little, because we are still waiting".
The programme reveals that the PSNI has granted conditional access to some of its files and allowed some of its officers to give evidence.
But the families claim that the most crucial evidence, which is held by the gardai in Dublin, is being withheld from them.
Relatives say that have repeatedly tried to access the evidence through the Department of Justice and the taoiseach but have still been granted the information.
However, in a statement to the programme, the Department of Justice said it categorically rejected suggestions that it was "dragging its feet".
"While the frustrations of the relatives are appreciated and regretted, there is a legal process under way," it said.
"The minister has raised the civil action personally with the Garda Commissioner and has been assured that the gardai will be of all possible assistance in relation to giving evidence in the case, subject to any legal constraints that may arise."
By Suzanne McGonagle
RELATIVES of those killed in the Omagh bombing have accused Taoiseach Bertie Ahern of betraying them. Some of the families also claim that the Irish government has turned its back on them ahead of a civil action the relatives are taking against five men they believe are responsible for the atrocity.
The claims are made in an RTE One documentary to be broadcast tonight. Last December, the families' hopes of a criminal prosecution were destroyed when Sean Hoey, the only man accused of the murders of the 29 people including a woman pregnant with unborn twins in the 1998 bomb attack, was cleared.
However, some of the families now believe the civil action against the men - including Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt and Colm Murphy - is their only chance of justice.
The relatives also see the civil action as "a challenge to the British, American and Irish governments who all pledged back in 1998 to leave no stone unturned in the hunt for the bombers".
Entitled Letter of the Law and made by Belfast-based production company Below the Radar, the documentary will show families claim that although authorities in Northern Ireland are backing their action, their counterparts in the Republic are failing to help.
Footage from a speech Mr Ahern made to the Dail in 1998 shows him declare his government's assistance to the families of those killed.
"They should be in no doubt about our determination to do everything we can to assist in bringing the perpetrators of this terrible crime to justice," he said.
"We are determined that the people of this island, north and south, will enjoy the peace they democratically endorsed and that the victims of Omagh will have justice."
However, Michael Gallagher whose son Aidan was killed in the bomb, said: "We have had continuous promise after promise, even from the taoiseach himself last week saying they would do everything possible. But in reality the substance is very little, because we are still waiting".
The programme reveals that the PSNI has granted conditional access to some of its files and allowed some of its officers to give evidence.
But the families claim that the most crucial evidence, which is held by the gardai in Dublin, is being withheld from them.
Relatives say that have repeatedly tried to access the evidence through the Department of Justice and the taoiseach but have still been granted the information.
However, in a statement to the programme, the Department of Justice said it categorically rejected suggestions that it was "dragging its feet".
"While the frustrations of the relatives are appreciated and regretted, there is a legal process under way," it said.
"The minister has raised the civil action personally with the Garda Commissioner and has been assured that the gardai will be of all possible assistance in relation to giving evidence in the case, subject to any legal constraints that may arise."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0904
Published Date: 25-Mar-08
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