OMAGH INQUIRY WOULD SERVE PUBLIC INTEREST
Omagh inquiry would serve public interest
AN anniversary can be good or bad. glad or sad. according to the nature of the occasion or event. Some commemorations receive more media coverage than others. The killings on January 30, .1972, Bloody Sunday and its aftermath, receive almost universal recall. The Omagh bomb incident of August 15. 1998, does not attract quite the same amount of interest or attention.
On Bloody Sunday. 14 people were killed whilst taking part in an illegal march and demonstration. In Omagh, more than twice as many people were killed; 31 fatalities including unborn twins. Also, the Omagh bomb resulted in more than 250 people being injured, many of them seriously. Moreover, the victims were going about their lawful business on a Saturday afternoon. There were two public inquiries into Bloody Sunday. There has yet to be a public inquiry into the Omagh bombing atrocity. Where is the justice in this imbalance? There are clear distinctions between Bloody Sunday and Omagh. A public inquiry into the Omagh bombing would not have to be long-drawn-out or costly. The Saville Inquiry took months to look into the circumstances surrounding each death, whereas in Omagh. all deaths and injuries were instantaneous from the one explosion. The number of questions to be answered in the Omagh incident would be limited, and so would the number of people qualified to answer them. The Government has authorised public inquiries into the deaths of individuals in separate incidents, for example, the Billy Wright Inquiry, the Hamill Inquiry, and the Rosemary Nelson Inquiry. As we know, there were 31 fatalities in the Omagh bombing, and there has as yet been no public inquiry into it. Furthermore, there are matters of public interest to be investigated. The bomb was placed in Omagh only months after the signing of the Belfast Agreement. Was the Government lax in reducing the number of security patrols so soon after the Agreement so as not to upset the political atmosphere of apparent peace? Did the people of Omagh pay the price for the Government's negligence? What information did the Government listening post. GCHQ, detect from the mobile phone traffic of the terrorists? How was this information passed on to the police, and how did they deal with it? Why did the Threat Book in the Omagh police station subsequently go missing and who was responsible for its safe custody?
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Owen Paterson, has this matter currently under review, and should soon be giving his decision as to a public inquiry, which he can authorise under his powers in the Public Inquiry Act 2005. Justice delayed is justice denied. The philosopher Edmund Burke is quoted as saying, 'All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.' The Omagh bombing was the worst incident in the recent Northern Ireland 'Troubles', and the victims' relatives should receive the public inquiry they rightly deserve.
Neil C Oliver, LL B
Newtownards
AN anniversary can be good or bad. glad or sad. according to the nature of the occasion or event. Some commemorations receive more media coverage than others. The killings on January 30, .1972, Bloody Sunday and its aftermath, receive almost universal recall. The Omagh bomb incident of August 15. 1998, does not attract quite the same amount of interest or attention.
On Bloody Sunday. 14 people were killed whilst taking part in an illegal march and demonstration. In Omagh, more than twice as many people were killed; 31 fatalities including unborn twins. Also, the Omagh bomb resulted in more than 250 people being injured, many of them seriously. Moreover, the victims were going about their lawful business on a Saturday afternoon. There were two public inquiries into Bloody Sunday. There has yet to be a public inquiry into the Omagh bombing atrocity. Where is the justice in this imbalance? There are clear distinctions between Bloody Sunday and Omagh. A public inquiry into the Omagh bombing would not have to be long-drawn-out or costly. The Saville Inquiry took months to look into the circumstances surrounding each death, whereas in Omagh. all deaths and injuries were instantaneous from the one explosion. The number of questions to be answered in the Omagh incident would be limited, and so would the number of people qualified to answer them. The Government has authorised public inquiries into the deaths of individuals in separate incidents, for example, the Billy Wright Inquiry, the Hamill Inquiry, and the Rosemary Nelson Inquiry. As we know, there were 31 fatalities in the Omagh bombing, and there has as yet been no public inquiry into it. Furthermore, there are matters of public interest to be investigated. The bomb was placed in Omagh only months after the signing of the Belfast Agreement. Was the Government lax in reducing the number of security patrols so soon after the Agreement so as not to upset the political atmosphere of apparent peace? Did the people of Omagh pay the price for the Government's negligence? What information did the Government listening post. GCHQ, detect from the mobile phone traffic of the terrorists? How was this information passed on to the police, and how did they deal with it? Why did the Threat Book in the Omagh police station subsequently go missing and who was responsible for its safe custody?
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Owen Paterson, has this matter currently under review, and should soon be giving his decision as to a public inquiry, which he can authorise under his powers in the Public Inquiry Act 2005. Justice delayed is justice denied. The philosopher Edmund Burke is quoted as saying, 'All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.' The Omagh bombing was the worst incident in the recent Northern Ireland 'Troubles', and the victims' relatives should receive the public inquiry they rightly deserve.
Neil C Oliver, LL B
Newtownards
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/818
Published Date: 02-Feb-11
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