SOME QUESTIONS MAY NEVER BE ANSWERED - FLANAGAN TO TELL FAMILIES
Some questions may never be answered Flanagan to tell families
THE investigation into the Omagh bombing is still a 'live' one, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the Chief Constable, is expected to tell families at a meeting later today (Thursday).
And while he is expected to say that some of the outstanding questions may never be definitively answered, he will stress that those who carried out the attack can still be brought to justice - if the relevant information is given to police.
He will meet relatives at the Silverbirch Hotel, where he will outline his response to the damning Police Ombudsman's report released at the same venue before Christmas.
That report was scathing of many aspects of the police investigation, but the Chief Constable is expected to make a robust defence of his force's handling of the affair.
Sir Ronnie was stung by personal criticism in the report by Mrs. Nuala O'Loan, and it is understood he has still not ruled out taking legal action over it.
Sources say that the Chief Constable's briefing will be fairly detailed and it might be "quite surprising" what was covered.
Since the Ombudsman published her report, the Police Service has had a team looking at what it said in some detail, checking her facts and evaluating her conclusions.
Sources have ruled out suggestions in some weekend newspapers that, even at that stage, Sir Ronnie was planning to concede widespread failings in the investigation. On Monday the Tyrone Constitution learned that the response by the Chief Constable had not been finalised.
Sir Ronnie is expected to point out that there are two Ombudsman's documents; one the summary that was published, and the other a fuller report that has never been put into the public domain. He will concentrate on responding to the published statement.
The briefing of the families is expected to last several hours, and Sir Ronnie is expected to tell them that there are no definitive answers to some of the questions they will want answered.
Sources say Sir Ronnie will address many questions, one of which is could the bomb attack have been prevented?. He is expected to say that question could not be answered yes or no. Information will be put before the families stressing that the police had no advance information or intelligence that there was to be a bomb attack on Omagh.
Another key question was whether information from the informant 'Kevin Fulton' could have prevented the attack. The Chief Constable, it is understood, will endeavour to prove that Fulton's information could not have prevented an attack.
The ombudsman made much of the information provided by an anonymous caller to Omagh police station 11 days before the bombing, and the Chief Constable is expected to spell out exactly what was done with that information. He is expected to say it did not relate to the August 15 attack.
Sources say the Chief Constable will tell the families the information was extensively processed before conclusions were arrived at.
Mrs. O'Loan's report also criticised the role of Special Branch, and the Chief Constable is expected to go into detail on its role, and may present facts not seen in the public domain before.
He will also discuss the review of the Omagh bombing that was carried out about nine months after the investigation began. He is expected to say that, by that stage, many lines of enquiry had fallen through, and the point was reached when the police needed to take stock of what they had.
Mrs. O'Loan was also scathing in her criticism of the leadership, judgement and urgency shown by the Chief Constable and other senior officers. Sir Ronnie is expected to make a robust response to those points, and say there is not a shred of evidence to justify them.
He will be joined at the briefing by other senior members of the force, and is expected to give a Press conference after the meeting with the families.
THE investigation into the Omagh bombing is still a 'live' one, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the Chief Constable, is expected to tell families at a meeting later today (Thursday).
And while he is expected to say that some of the outstanding questions may never be definitively answered, he will stress that those who carried out the attack can still be brought to justice - if the relevant information is given to police.
He will meet relatives at the Silverbirch Hotel, where he will outline his response to the damning Police Ombudsman's report released at the same venue before Christmas.
That report was scathing of many aspects of the police investigation, but the Chief Constable is expected to make a robust defence of his force's handling of the affair.
Sir Ronnie was stung by personal criticism in the report by Mrs. Nuala O'Loan, and it is understood he has still not ruled out taking legal action over it.
Sources say that the Chief Constable's briefing will be fairly detailed and it might be "quite surprising" what was covered.
Since the Ombudsman published her report, the Police Service has had a team looking at what it said in some detail, checking her facts and evaluating her conclusions.
Sources have ruled out suggestions in some weekend newspapers that, even at that stage, Sir Ronnie was planning to concede widespread failings in the investigation. On Monday the Tyrone Constitution learned that the response by the Chief Constable had not been finalised.
Sir Ronnie is expected to point out that there are two Ombudsman's documents; one the summary that was published, and the other a fuller report that has never been put into the public domain. He will concentrate on responding to the published statement.
The briefing of the families is expected to last several hours, and Sir Ronnie is expected to tell them that there are no definitive answers to some of the questions they will want answered.
Sources say Sir Ronnie will address many questions, one of which is could the bomb attack have been prevented?. He is expected to say that question could not be answered yes or no. Information will be put before the families stressing that the police had no advance information or intelligence that there was to be a bomb attack on Omagh.
Another key question was whether information from the informant 'Kevin Fulton' could have prevented the attack. The Chief Constable, it is understood, will endeavour to prove that Fulton's information could not have prevented an attack.
The ombudsman made much of the information provided by an anonymous caller to Omagh police station 11 days before the bombing, and the Chief Constable is expected to spell out exactly what was done with that information. He is expected to say it did not relate to the August 15 attack.
Sources say the Chief Constable will tell the families the information was extensively processed before conclusions were arrived at.
Mrs. O'Loan's report also criticised the role of Special Branch, and the Chief Constable is expected to go into detail on its role, and may present facts not seen in the public domain before.
He will also discuss the review of the Omagh bombing that was carried out about nine months after the investigation began. He is expected to say that, by that stage, many lines of enquiry had fallen through, and the point was reached when the police needed to take stock of what they had.
Mrs. O'Loan was also scathing in her criticism of the leadership, judgement and urgency shown by the Chief Constable and other senior officers. Sir Ronnie is expected to make a robust response to those points, and say there is not a shred of evidence to justify them.
He will be joined at the briefing by other senior members of the force, and is expected to give a Press conference after the meeting with the families.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0995
Published Date: 24-Jan-02
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