INQUIRIES INTO CLAIM OF THE DEAL WITH BOMBERS
Inquiries into claim of deal with bombers
TWO independent inquiries into the activities of the Real IRA around the time of the Omagh bomb could lead to senior members of the Garda being prosecuted.
A dossier containing claims that the Garda Siochana failed to share intelligence with members of the then RUC, which could have warned them about the 1998 atrocity, has been sent to the Irish government.
The document was drawn up by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, Nuala O'Loan, and also claims that police in the Republic turned a blind eye to terror attacks north of the border to protect their informant, named as Budget in the report.
Meanwhile, PSNI Detective Superindent Norman Baxter is heading up an investigation into the claims.
The Ombudsman's document outlines claims by Budget that the Irish government had struck a deal with the Real IRA, in the days following the Co Tyrone massacre.
The paper alleges that on three occasions, the Garda failed to act upon the spy's warnings about impending Real IRA activity, which led to the bomb attacks on police stations in Moira and Beleek, and the attack in Omagh itself.
The spy's warnings involved the theft of cars used in attacks in February, May and August 1998.
The claims were made in yesterday's Sunday Times which said in August, the informant alleged he was asked to steal a car to be used for "a bombing within two weeks" which he is said to have passed on to the Garda.
The day before the Omagh bomb, the informant was then told by his Real IRA contact that the car was no longer needed as another had been obtained. Mrs O'Loan's paper alleges that this intelligence, that a bomb attack was imminent, was never passed on to the RUC.
A spokesman for Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne has said the allegations had "no basis", were without substance and had emanated from "a mischievous source".
The dossier was handed to the Irish government last March and in May, the then Justice Minister, John O'Donoghue, announced that a three-man commission would be formed to examine its claims.
TWO independent inquiries into the activities of the Real IRA around the time of the Omagh bomb could lead to senior members of the Garda being prosecuted.
A dossier containing claims that the Garda Siochana failed to share intelligence with members of the then RUC, which could have warned them about the 1998 atrocity, has been sent to the Irish government.
The document was drawn up by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, Nuala O'Loan, and also claims that police in the Republic turned a blind eye to terror attacks north of the border to protect their informant, named as Budget in the report.
Meanwhile, PSNI Detective Superindent Norman Baxter is heading up an investigation into the claims.
The Ombudsman's document outlines claims by Budget that the Irish government had struck a deal with the Real IRA, in the days following the Co Tyrone massacre.
The paper alleges that on three occasions, the Garda failed to act upon the spy's warnings about impending Real IRA activity, which led to the bomb attacks on police stations in Moira and Beleek, and the attack in Omagh itself.
The spy's warnings involved the theft of cars used in attacks in February, May and August 1998.
The claims were made in yesterday's Sunday Times which said in August, the informant alleged he was asked to steal a car to be used for "a bombing within two weeks" which he is said to have passed on to the Garda.
The day before the Omagh bomb, the informant was then told by his Real IRA contact that the car was no longer needed as another had been obtained. Mrs O'Loan's paper alleges that this intelligence, that a bomb attack was imminent, was never passed on to the RUC.
A spokesman for Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne has said the allegations had "no basis", were without substance and had emanated from "a mischievous source".
The dossier was handed to the Irish government last March and in May, the then Justice Minister, John O'Donoghue, announced that a three-man commission would be formed to examine its claims.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/452
Published Date: 21-Oct-02
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