CROSS BORDER RIFT OVER OMAGH WITNESS
Cross-border rift over Omagh 'witness'
A PROTECTED witness has caused a rift between the PSNI and Garda.
Paddy Dixon, who is being held under the Garda Witness Protection Programme, is required for interview by PSNI officers investigating the 1998 Omagh bombing, the worst terrorist atrocity of The Troubles.
Dixon is a key Real IRA informant but Garda are refusing Northern Ireland police access to him.
A PSNI spokesman said: "The PSNI believe that this man could be a significant witness and have made a number of requests for him to be made available for interview.
"We will continue to do so."
A Garda spokesman said: "Where a person has legal representatives, requests for information are processed through that legal representative.
"Should any information be received by us which would assist this investigation, this would immediately be passed on."
The PSNI believe that double agent Dixon, a master car thief, knows the names of key figures in organising the Omagh bombing.
They have made three requests for him to be handed over for interview.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan died in the Omagh atrocity, said yesterday: "At long last the police in Northern Ireland have admitted Paddy Dixon is a vital witness.
"But the fact the PSNI's requests to interview him have been turned down speaks volumes about all the high talk about cross-border co-operation and Ireland and Britain joining the war on terrorism."
The Real IRA bomb in Omagh in August 1998 killed 29 people and two unborn babies.
A PROTECTED witness has caused a rift between the PSNI and Garda.
Paddy Dixon, who is being held under the Garda Witness Protection Programme, is required for interview by PSNI officers investigating the 1998 Omagh bombing, the worst terrorist atrocity of The Troubles.
Dixon is a key Real IRA informant but Garda are refusing Northern Ireland police access to him.
A PSNI spokesman said: "The PSNI believe that this man could be a significant witness and have made a number of requests for him to be made available for interview.
"We will continue to do so."
A Garda spokesman said: "Where a person has legal representatives, requests for information are processed through that legal representative.
"Should any information be received by us which would assist this investigation, this would immediately be passed on."
The PSNI believe that double agent Dixon, a master car thief, knows the names of key figures in organising the Omagh bombing.
They have made three requests for him to be handed over for interview.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan died in the Omagh atrocity, said yesterday: "At long last the police in Northern Ireland have admitted Paddy Dixon is a vital witness.
"But the fact the PSNI's requests to interview him have been turned down speaks volumes about all the high talk about cross-border co-operation and Ireland and Britain joining the war on terrorism."
The Real IRA bomb in Omagh in August 1998 killed 29 people and two unborn babies.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/494
Published Date: 10-Nov-03
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