REPORTER STANDS OVER STORY
Reporter stands over story
SECRETARY of State Shaun Woodward said the British government shared the public's deep regret that the Omagh bombers had not been brought to justice. Responding to Sir Peter Gibson's report on the role of GCHQ at the time of the bombing
Mr Woodward said: "While it remains right the police and other agencies charged with protecting the public from terrorism are accountable for their conduct and subject to scrutiny, we must never forget the bomb was the deliberate work of the RIRA."
Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde said he agreed with Sir Peter.
"I also strongly endorse his view that none of that information could have prevented the atrocity," he said.
Sir Peter's findings were drawn from a much fuller report, which has been classified for security reasons.
Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aidan was killed in the bomb, said he wanted to see the full version.
"We believe that mistakes were made and those mistakes should be examined and put right to give us a better chance of preventing any future attack and catching those responsible," Mr Gallagher said.
Panorama reporter John Ware said he stood by his story and said that, in certain respects, Sir Peter's report was "highly selective and a little disingenuous".
He said it had not focused on why detectives had not been given the information.
"[The report] says all the information was shared with Special Branch," he told BBC Radio Ulster.
"The question we raised in this programme, and one that still remains a very live issue, is why the detectives at the end of the food-chain didn't get to know everything the Special Branch knew and what GCHQ knew."
Sinn Fein West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty said he was not satisfied with the review, while SDLP assembly member Alban Maginness also called for further examination of the role of the security services.
SECRETARY of State Shaun Woodward said the British government shared the public's deep regret that the Omagh bombers had not been brought to justice. Responding to Sir Peter Gibson's report on the role of GCHQ at the time of the bombing
Mr Woodward said: "While it remains right the police and other agencies charged with protecting the public from terrorism are accountable for their conduct and subject to scrutiny, we must never forget the bomb was the deliberate work of the RIRA."
Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde said he agreed with Sir Peter.
"I also strongly endorse his view that none of that information could have prevented the atrocity," he said.
Sir Peter's findings were drawn from a much fuller report, which has been classified for security reasons.
Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aidan was killed in the bomb, said he wanted to see the full version.
"We believe that mistakes were made and those mistakes should be examined and put right to give us a better chance of preventing any future attack and catching those responsible," Mr Gallagher said.
Panorama reporter John Ware said he stood by his story and said that, in certain respects, Sir Peter's report was "highly selective and a little disingenuous".
He said it had not focused on why detectives had not been given the information.
"[The report] says all the information was shared with Special Branch," he told BBC Radio Ulster.
"The question we raised in this programme, and one that still remains a very live issue, is why the detectives at the end of the food-chain didn't get to know everything the Special Branch knew and what GCHQ knew."
Sinn Fein West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty said he was not satisfied with the review, while SDLP assembly member Alban Maginness also called for further examination of the role of the security services.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/1015
Published Date: 22-Jan-09
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