OMAGH FAMILIES TO MEET POLICING BOARD
Omagh families to meet Policing Board
BY IAN GRAHAM
THE Northern Ireland Policing Board is to meet with the Omagh families to discuss plans for an independent external review of the police investigations into the bombing.
The meeting was requested by Michael Gallagher, whose son was among the 29 people murdered in the Real IRA atrocity in 1998.
The decision to agree was made when members of the board's Corporate Policy Planning and Performance Committee held a special meeting yesterday to consider how to move forward towards an external review.
Board chairman Prof Sir Desmond Rea said: "In their discussions today, board members were very mindful of the views of all those who have suffered and continue to suffer as a result of the Omagh bombing atrocity; and agreed that before taking any further action in respect of agreeing terms of reference for the review, a meeting with the Omagh families should be arranged."
Board member, SDLP MLA Delores Kelly, took Mr Gallagher's request to the meeting after he contacted her in the morning.
She said: "After a lot of persuasion I got the backing I wanted."
The meeting between the whole board and the families would take place at the earliest opportunity, she said.
Ms Kelly said: "Given the dramatic closure of the Omagh bomb trial last month, this is an important opportunity for the board to listen to the families and to put forward its thinking on an external review and the possibility of further prosecutions."
She said it was important to have the views of the Omagh families at the centre of the process and she was pleased the committee backed her request.
Michael Gallagher said: "This is good news, I feel it is always good news when the people directly affected are put in the picture."
Meanwhile, the Police Ombudsman is to seek clarification about a number of issues raised about police behaviour by the judge in the Sean Hoey trial.
Mr Justice Weir accused two police officers involved in the case of attempting to mislead the court by "beefing up" evidence and indicated others might be involved.
In response to the Police Ombudsman's recommendations, the PSNI has reviewed the duties performed by both officers.
A spokesman for the Police Ombudsman's office said no meeting had been scheduled with Mr Justice Weir, and that matters might be dealt with through correspondence.
Mr Gallagher, chairman Omagh Support and Self Help Group, said most people were prepared to wait to see the outcome of the Ombudsman investigation.
"There are problems with the investigation north and south," he said. "The Policing Board review is only a part of the story, it needs to be done on both sides of the border.
"These are only piecemeal attempts to deal with the Omagh bomb. We need a full cross-border inquiry."
Michael Gallagher is to address an international conference on victims of terrorism in Madrid next week.
"I will be the only delegate from here speaking at Madrid, which shows the respect internationally that the Omagh Support and Self Help Group has," he said.
BY IAN GRAHAM
THE Northern Ireland Policing Board is to meet with the Omagh families to discuss plans for an independent external review of the police investigations into the bombing.
The meeting was requested by Michael Gallagher, whose son was among the 29 people murdered in the Real IRA atrocity in 1998.
The decision to agree was made when members of the board's Corporate Policy Planning and Performance Committee held a special meeting yesterday to consider how to move forward towards an external review.
Board chairman Prof Sir Desmond Rea said: "In their discussions today, board members were very mindful of the views of all those who have suffered and continue to suffer as a result of the Omagh bombing atrocity; and agreed that before taking any further action in respect of agreeing terms of reference for the review, a meeting with the Omagh families should be arranged."
Board member, SDLP MLA Delores Kelly, took Mr Gallagher's request to the meeting after he contacted her in the morning.
She said: "After a lot of persuasion I got the backing I wanted."
The meeting between the whole board and the families would take place at the earliest opportunity, she said.
Ms Kelly said: "Given the dramatic closure of the Omagh bomb trial last month, this is an important opportunity for the board to listen to the families and to put forward its thinking on an external review and the possibility of further prosecutions."
She said it was important to have the views of the Omagh families at the centre of the process and she was pleased the committee backed her request.
Michael Gallagher said: "This is good news, I feel it is always good news when the people directly affected are put in the picture."
Meanwhile, the Police Ombudsman is to seek clarification about a number of issues raised about police behaviour by the judge in the Sean Hoey trial.
Mr Justice Weir accused two police officers involved in the case of attempting to mislead the court by "beefing up" evidence and indicated others might be involved.
In response to the Police Ombudsman's recommendations, the PSNI has reviewed the duties performed by both officers.
A spokesman for the Police Ombudsman's office said no meeting had been scheduled with Mr Justice Weir, and that matters might be dealt with through correspondence.
Mr Gallagher, chairman Omagh Support and Self Help Group, said most people were prepared to wait to see the outcome of the Ombudsman investigation.
"There are problems with the investigation north and south," he said. "The Policing Board review is only a part of the story, it needs to be done on both sides of the border.
"These are only piecemeal attempts to deal with the Omagh bomb. We need a full cross-border inquiry."
Michael Gallagher is to address an international conference on victims of terrorism in Madrid next week.
"I will be the only delegate from here speaking at Madrid, which shows the respect internationally that the Omagh Support and Self Help Group has," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/720
Published Date: 18-Jan-08
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