POLICE REFUSE TO DO PRESS INTERVIEWS
Police refuse to do press interviews
Police have been criticised for refusing interviews about the investigation into the Omagh bombing on the tenth anniversary of the atrocity.
A spokesman issued a statement on behalf of senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Norman Baxter, but said he would not be available to any media outlet for interview.
There has been heavy criticism of the policing handling of the case over the past 10 years, both by the RUC under chief constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan and during the trial of suspect Sean Hoey, who was acquitted of the Omagh murders. In response to Irish News requests for an interview, the PSNI press office issued a statement saying: "The investigation remains live and a number of officers are working on the case.
"Police have not given up on catching those responsible. But as we have said before what is needed is for the people out there who know who did this to come forward now in the new dispensation and tell us what they know.
"Police need people to make statements and give evidence. Without this assistance, any prosecution is unlikely but police are not giving up." Veteran independent Omagh councillor Patrick McGowan, who knew a number of those murdered in the bombing, said the tenth anniversary provided police with a good opportunity to remind people the investigation is still live.
"I welcome the fact that the investigation is continuing but I think it's short sighted that the police are not giving interviews about the bombing," he said.
"It may have jogged some people's memory to provide more evidence."
Police have been criticised for refusing interviews about the investigation into the Omagh bombing on the tenth anniversary of the atrocity.
A spokesman issued a statement on behalf of senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Norman Baxter, but said he would not be available to any media outlet for interview.
There has been heavy criticism of the policing handling of the case over the past 10 years, both by the RUC under chief constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan and during the trial of suspect Sean Hoey, who was acquitted of the Omagh murders. In response to Irish News requests for an interview, the PSNI press office issued a statement saying: "The investigation remains live and a number of officers are working on the case.
"Police have not given up on catching those responsible. But as we have said before what is needed is for the people out there who know who did this to come forward now in the new dispensation and tell us what they know.
"Police need people to make statements and give evidence. Without this assistance, any prosecution is unlikely but police are not giving up." Veteran independent Omagh councillor Patrick McGowan, who knew a number of those murdered in the bombing, said the tenth anniversary provided police with a good opportunity to remind people the investigation is still live.
"I welcome the fact that the investigation is continuing but I think it's short sighted that the police are not giving interviews about the bombing," he said.
"It may have jogged some people's memory to provide more evidence."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN10An/07
Published Date: 06-Aug-08
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