OMAGH GROUP TOLD OF MI5 INTELLIGENCE
Omagh group told of M15 intelligence
BY IAN GRAHAM
INTELLIGENCE gathered by MI5 before the 1998 Omagh bomb was only passed to the PSNI earlier this year, the Chief Constable confirmed yesterday.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was among the 29 people murdered, said if the intelligence had been passed on before the attack it might have made a difference.
Mr Gallagher and others who lost loved ones in the bombing, together with a number of those injured, spent two hours in heated discussions with Sir Hugh Orde yesterday.
It was the first time they had met and Mr Gallagher described the discussions as "very long, at times difficult and sometimes very frank".
Speaking on behalf of the group, Mr Gallagher said: "We talked about the way things had been handled, the intelligence, particularly MI5.
"He confirmed that it was only earlier this year that the PSNI was aware of that intelligence for the first time. It was important for us to hear it from the chief constable.
"That was something outside his control, but nevertheless we believe it could have made a difference and the police in Omagh had a right to know that intelligence so that they could at least have had a chance."
He said many other opportunities had been missed. "It may or may not have had a bearing on the Omagh bomb but at least it would have raised the state of awareness that there was a bomb attack on its way."
The families left Sir Hugh in no doubt at their dissatisfaction that nearly eight years after the bombing no-one had yet been convicted of murder.
So far only South Armagh electrician Sean Hoey, 36, had been charged with killing those slaughtered in the car bombing. He is due to go on trial in September.
The families are also planning a civil action against several men they believe to be responsible for the bomb.
Mr Gallagher said once the two cases were completed the families would be pressing for a full cross-border public inquiry.
Mr Gallagher said the criminal police investigation must now be coming to the end of its active life and once it and the cases were over they wanted the inquiry.
They will be pressing the Government to commit to one and local politicians to support them in their call.
"We are not going to stop here, there may be some difficulties, there may be some embarrassment to the governments in the future, but that is for them to deal with," said Mr Gallagher.
Yesterday's meeting went ahead with Sir Hugh, and Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter, the detective in charge of the investigation, weeks after the families failed in a bid to have talks with the head of MI5, Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller.
They had wanted to discuss with her allegations that the security service withheld intelligence months before the bombing that either Omagh or Londonderry were possible targets.
BY IAN GRAHAM
INTELLIGENCE gathered by MI5 before the 1998 Omagh bomb was only passed to the PSNI earlier this year, the Chief Constable confirmed yesterday.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was among the 29 people murdered, said if the intelligence had been passed on before the attack it might have made a difference.
Mr Gallagher and others who lost loved ones in the bombing, together with a number of those injured, spent two hours in heated discussions with Sir Hugh Orde yesterday.
It was the first time they had met and Mr Gallagher described the discussions as "very long, at times difficult and sometimes very frank".
Speaking on behalf of the group, Mr Gallagher said: "We talked about the way things had been handled, the intelligence, particularly MI5.
"He confirmed that it was only earlier this year that the PSNI was aware of that intelligence for the first time. It was important for us to hear it from the chief constable.
"That was something outside his control, but nevertheless we believe it could have made a difference and the police in Omagh had a right to know that intelligence so that they could at least have had a chance."
He said many other opportunities had been missed. "It may or may not have had a bearing on the Omagh bomb but at least it would have raised the state of awareness that there was a bomb attack on its way."
The families left Sir Hugh in no doubt at their dissatisfaction that nearly eight years after the bombing no-one had yet been convicted of murder.
So far only South Armagh electrician Sean Hoey, 36, had been charged with killing those slaughtered in the car bombing. He is due to go on trial in September.
The families are also planning a civil action against several men they believe to be responsible for the bomb.
Mr Gallagher said once the two cases were completed the families would be pressing for a full cross-border public inquiry.
Mr Gallagher said the criminal police investigation must now be coming to the end of its active life and once it and the cases were over they wanted the inquiry.
They will be pressing the Government to commit to one and local politicians to support them in their call.
"We are not going to stop here, there may be some difficulties, there may be some embarrassment to the governments in the future, but that is for them to deal with," said Mr Gallagher.
Yesterday's meeting went ahead with Sir Hugh, and Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter, the detective in charge of the investigation, weeks after the families failed in a bid to have talks with the head of MI5, Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller.
They had wanted to discuss with her allegations that the security service withheld intelligence months before the bombing that either Omagh or Londonderry were possible targets.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/645
Published Date: 04-Apr-06
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.