OMAGH FAMILIES HIT OUT AT 'DECEPTION'
Omagh families hit out at 'deception'
By ALAN ERWIN
OMAGH bomb relatives have accused the Government of an outrageous deception over the whereabouts of an informer wanted for questioning over the attack.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden died in the massacre, yesterday launched a scathing attack on security chiefs over the whereabouts of alleged master car thief-turned Real IRA infiltrator Paddy Dixon.
It had been suspected the Dublin authorities were refusing to cooperate in attempts to have Dixon brought across the border to be interviewed.
But in a new twist Northern Ireland Security Minister Ian Pearson came under pressure in the Commons to confirm the mole had been relocated to the UK.
Dixon was stopped in Cardiff with a pile of cash earlier this year, Conservative MP for Tewksbury, Laurence Robertson alleged.
Although Mr Pearson pledged to investigate the claims, Mr Gallagher said he was stunned by how police and Government have handled the case.
"The authorities have been disingenuous with the families," he said.
"The Government and the Chief Constable should have been aware of this matter as well. Yet we were led to believe it was the fault of the Irish Government that this man had not been made available."
Dixon is believed to have been a Garda informant at the time of the Omagh attack, when a Real IRA car bomb killed 29 people in the Co Tyrone market town.
He was asked by dissident republicans to provide a car for the attack, but later told it was not needed as the bomb team had obtained another vehicle.
Although no one has ever been convicted for the atrocity, some of the victims' relatives have launched a multi-million pound civil action against the five men they say plotted the bombing.
Mr Gallagher insisted the new concerns intensified the case for a major probe.
He added: "There is something much bigger to all of this which we don't understand.
"For that reason the families feel the only way forward is for a full public cross-border inquiry to get to the truth. We have had investigation after investigation but they have all revealed very little," he added.
By ALAN ERWIN
OMAGH bomb relatives have accused the Government of an outrageous deception over the whereabouts of an informer wanted for questioning over the attack.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden died in the massacre, yesterday launched a scathing attack on security chiefs over the whereabouts of alleged master car thief-turned Real IRA infiltrator Paddy Dixon.
It had been suspected the Dublin authorities were refusing to cooperate in attempts to have Dixon brought across the border to be interviewed.
But in a new twist Northern Ireland Security Minister Ian Pearson came under pressure in the Commons to confirm the mole had been relocated to the UK.
Dixon was stopped in Cardiff with a pile of cash earlier this year, Conservative MP for Tewksbury, Laurence Robertson alleged.
Although Mr Pearson pledged to investigate the claims, Mr Gallagher said he was stunned by how police and Government have handled the case.
"The authorities have been disingenuous with the families," he said.
"The Government and the Chief Constable should have been aware of this matter as well. Yet we were led to believe it was the fault of the Irish Government that this man had not been made available."
Dixon is believed to have been a Garda informant at the time of the Omagh attack, when a Real IRA car bomb killed 29 people in the Co Tyrone market town.
He was asked by dissident republicans to provide a car for the attack, but later told it was not needed as the bomb team had obtained another vehicle.
Although no one has ever been convicted for the atrocity, some of the victims' relatives have launched a multi-million pound civil action against the five men they say plotted the bombing.
Mr Gallagher insisted the new concerns intensified the case for a major probe.
He added: "There is something much bigger to all of this which we don't understand.
"For that reason the families feel the only way forward is for a full public cross-border inquiry to get to the truth. We have had investigation after investigation but they have all revealed very little," he added.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/567
Published Date: 29-Oct-04
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