OMAGH FAMILIES TO MEET POLICE OMBUDSMAN ON BOMB REPORT
Omagh families to meet police ombudsman on bomb report
RELATIVES of those who died in the Omagh bombing of 1988 will next week be given details of an inquiry carried out by the police ombudsman into aspects of the RUC's investigations.
The report by the ombudsman. Nuala O'Loan, was presented to the chief constable on Wednesday of last week.
The 150-page report is said to be critical of police handling of the investigation, suggesting there was a conflict between those carrying out the enquiry, and others who wanted to protect an intelligence source.
Mrs. O'Loan is expected to travel to Omagh next Wednesday to give relatives details of her report.
Speaking on Wednesday, Mr. Michael Gallagher, of the Omagh Victims' Legal Action Group, said he was aware from media reports about some of the things the report is said to contain.
He added: "1 don't think it would be fair, however, for me to comment on it before seeing it."
Newspaper reports have claimed that Mrs. O'Loan began her investigation after an agent known as Kevin Fulton claimed that days before the Omagh bombing he gave a police handler information that a bomb was being prepared.
Fulton said his information was based on a meeting with a man he knew to be a bomb-maker, and whose clothes smelled of bomb-making material. The 'bomb maker' had indicated 'something big' was in the offing.
Mrs. O'Loan is reported to have been given a tape recording of the conversation between Fulton and his handler, and is thought to have conceded it was not clear enough to have prevented the bomb being planted in Omagh.
She is. however, reported to have been critical of the RUC Special Branch for 'steering' Omagh investigators away from the bomb-maker.
Picket
Meanwhile, at the weekend Omagh relatives of bomb victims confronted protesters from the 32 County Sovereignty Committee as they demonstrated over prisoners' rights outside the Irish embassy in London.
The organisation is said to be the political wing of the Real IRA, which carried out the Omagh bombing.
Mr. Gallagher said that for 30 years terrorists had not been challenged by the families of victims.
"They don't like it now that it's finally happening," he said.
Mr. Gallagher also handed in a letter to the Embassy.
In it the group pointed out there had been 31 fatalities and over 500 injuries in the blast.
The letter went on: "Today, a group of people who support those who carry out such attacks are protesting outside your embassy. They are calling for special treatment for prisoners who are convicted of serious terrorist acts.
"The supporters demand that they are treated with dignity and compassion, sadly this is in contrast to the way innocent victims are treated by terrorists carrying out their business.
Subsidise
"I believe all prisoners should be respected and cared for in a proper manner, however, to give in to pressure from terrorist-front organisations and allow special treatment is. in effect, to subsidise political criminals, and under human rights legislation all prisoners should be treated equally and without distinction."
And the group has also written to the Home Secretary. David Blunkett urging him to outlaw the 32 County Sovereignty Committee.
The group pointed out that the US Government has banned the committee.
The letter pointed out that in late November the 32 County Sovereignty Movement held a fund-raising rally in London, which was addressed by a founder member, Francie Mackey.
RELATIVES of those who died in the Omagh bombing of 1988 will next week be given details of an inquiry carried out by the police ombudsman into aspects of the RUC's investigations.
The report by the ombudsman. Nuala O'Loan, was presented to the chief constable on Wednesday of last week.
The 150-page report is said to be critical of police handling of the investigation, suggesting there was a conflict between those carrying out the enquiry, and others who wanted to protect an intelligence source.
Mrs. O'Loan is expected to travel to Omagh next Wednesday to give relatives details of her report.
Speaking on Wednesday, Mr. Michael Gallagher, of the Omagh Victims' Legal Action Group, said he was aware from media reports about some of the things the report is said to contain.
He added: "1 don't think it would be fair, however, for me to comment on it before seeing it."
Newspaper reports have claimed that Mrs. O'Loan began her investigation after an agent known as Kevin Fulton claimed that days before the Omagh bombing he gave a police handler information that a bomb was being prepared.
Fulton said his information was based on a meeting with a man he knew to be a bomb-maker, and whose clothes smelled of bomb-making material. The 'bomb maker' had indicated 'something big' was in the offing.
Mrs. O'Loan is reported to have been given a tape recording of the conversation between Fulton and his handler, and is thought to have conceded it was not clear enough to have prevented the bomb being planted in Omagh.
She is. however, reported to have been critical of the RUC Special Branch for 'steering' Omagh investigators away from the bomb-maker.
Picket
Meanwhile, at the weekend Omagh relatives of bomb victims confronted protesters from the 32 County Sovereignty Committee as they demonstrated over prisoners' rights outside the Irish embassy in London.
The organisation is said to be the political wing of the Real IRA, which carried out the Omagh bombing.
Mr. Gallagher said that for 30 years terrorists had not been challenged by the families of victims.
"They don't like it now that it's finally happening," he said.
Mr. Gallagher also handed in a letter to the Embassy.
In it the group pointed out there had been 31 fatalities and over 500 injuries in the blast.
The letter went on: "Today, a group of people who support those who carry out such attacks are protesting outside your embassy. They are calling for special treatment for prisoners who are convicted of serious terrorist acts.
"The supporters demand that they are treated with dignity and compassion, sadly this is in contrast to the way innocent victims are treated by terrorists carrying out their business.
Subsidise
"I believe all prisoners should be respected and cared for in a proper manner, however, to give in to pressure from terrorist-front organisations and allow special treatment is. in effect, to subsidise political criminals, and under human rights legislation all prisoners should be treated equally and without distinction."
And the group has also written to the Home Secretary. David Blunkett urging him to outlaw the 32 County Sovereignty Committee.
The group pointed out that the US Government has banned the committee.
The letter pointed out that in late November the 32 County Sovereignty Movement held a fund-raising rally in London, which was addressed by a founder member, Francie Mackey.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0951
Published Date: 06-Dec-01
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