CRITICISMS UNFOUNDED IN OMBUDSMAN'S REPORT - CLAIMS FLANAGAN
Criticisms unfounded in Ombudsman's Report - claims Flanagan
IN OMAGH on Thursday last. Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the Chief Constable, gave what the PSNI has described as "a compelling response to unfounded criticisms in the Ombudsman's report."
The statement presented to the families runs to 29 pages, and sets out what police did, and what they knew, before and after the blast.
In a foreword, the Chief Constable said the investigation of the Omagh bombing remained the largest single investigative challenge ever undertaken by the police in Northern Ireland.
He recognised the sense of loss, frustration and need for justice of all those affected, and added: "While one person has now been successfully convicted, neither my colleagues in the Police Service of Northern Ireland, nor my colleagues in An Garda Siochana will rest until absolutely everything has been done to see that others are convicted, as they should be." The key findings of the PSNI report were:
Information from an informant known as Kevin Fulton and anonymous information in a phone call on August 4 1998 was properly addressed by police, and could not have prevented the Omagh bombing.
Some procedures for the handling and dissemination of information were not as good as they should have been. Systems have been changed to ensure that there can be no recurrence. Even if Fulton's information ad been processed correctly, it could not have prevented the Omagh atrocity
Special Branch is not 'a force within a force'. It provides an essential service to the Police Service and the wider community. Its intelligence has formed a key part of the Omagh investigation on both sides of the border.
The review of the Omagh bomb investigation was not a re-investigation, but an integral part of the main investigation. It made 274 recommendations, of which 180 are relevant to he investigation. Others were either duplicates or related to matters of policy and training.
Vital evidence
" Police believe they know who carried out the Omagh bombing and how they did it. They have analysed 6.4 million telephone calls and seized three of the four mobile phones used by the bombers. The intensive search continues to find the vital additional evidence necessary to bring the perpetrators before the courts.
Accusations of a lack of judgment, leadership and urgency against senior officers are unsustainable. The investigation has been driven with energy, professionalism and determination. 89 per cent of all actions raised during the investigation (over 6,000) were completed within three months and 99 per cent within a year.
PSNI rejects allegations of a lack of cooperation with the Ombudsman. It stands ready to work with the Ombudsman's office, but is entitled to expect the same high standards of professionalism, rigour, openness and fairness that are expected of it.
The Ombudsman made six recommendations in her report, these are summarised below, with the PSNI response after the dash:
1. An external senior investigating officer should be appointed to lead the investigation. A senior detective from Merseyside Police has been appointed to act as an adviser.
2. An external officer in overall command should investigate potentially linked incidents identified in the Omagh bomb review report. The Merseyside officer will advise on the appropriate approach to linked incidents.
3. Senior investigating officers (SIO) to get access to all relevant intelligence, relevance being decided by the SIO - PSNI agrees appropriate access should be given, but the 'relevance' test is impractical.
4. Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary to review terrorist linked murder enquiries agreed.
5. Review of the role and function of Special Branch Major work is already being done as part of the Patten report recommendations, under the supervision of the Oversight Commissioner.
6. PSNI to adopt the Association of Chief Police Officers policy on murder reviews adopted in principle in April 2001.
IN OMAGH on Thursday last. Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the Chief Constable, gave what the PSNI has described as "a compelling response to unfounded criticisms in the Ombudsman's report."
The statement presented to the families runs to 29 pages, and sets out what police did, and what they knew, before and after the blast.
In a foreword, the Chief Constable said the investigation of the Omagh bombing remained the largest single investigative challenge ever undertaken by the police in Northern Ireland.
He recognised the sense of loss, frustration and need for justice of all those affected, and added: "While one person has now been successfully convicted, neither my colleagues in the Police Service of Northern Ireland, nor my colleagues in An Garda Siochana will rest until absolutely everything has been done to see that others are convicted, as they should be." The key findings of the PSNI report were:
Information from an informant known as Kevin Fulton and anonymous information in a phone call on August 4 1998 was properly addressed by police, and could not have prevented the Omagh bombing.
Some procedures for the handling and dissemination of information were not as good as they should have been. Systems have been changed to ensure that there can be no recurrence. Even if Fulton's information ad been processed correctly, it could not have prevented the Omagh atrocity
Special Branch is not 'a force within a force'. It provides an essential service to the Police Service and the wider community. Its intelligence has formed a key part of the Omagh investigation on both sides of the border.
The review of the Omagh bomb investigation was not a re-investigation, but an integral part of the main investigation. It made 274 recommendations, of which 180 are relevant to he investigation. Others were either duplicates or related to matters of policy and training.
Vital evidence
" Police believe they know who carried out the Omagh bombing and how they did it. They have analysed 6.4 million telephone calls and seized three of the four mobile phones used by the bombers. The intensive search continues to find the vital additional evidence necessary to bring the perpetrators before the courts.
Accusations of a lack of judgment, leadership and urgency against senior officers are unsustainable. The investigation has been driven with energy, professionalism and determination. 89 per cent of all actions raised during the investigation (over 6,000) were completed within three months and 99 per cent within a year.
PSNI rejects allegations of a lack of cooperation with the Ombudsman. It stands ready to work with the Ombudsman's office, but is entitled to expect the same high standards of professionalism, rigour, openness and fairness that are expected of it.
The Ombudsman made six recommendations in her report, these are summarised below, with the PSNI response after the dash:
1. An external senior investigating officer should be appointed to lead the investigation. A senior detective from Merseyside Police has been appointed to act as an adviser.
2. An external officer in overall command should investigate potentially linked incidents identified in the Omagh bomb review report. The Merseyside officer will advise on the appropriate approach to linked incidents.
3. Senior investigating officers (SIO) to get access to all relevant intelligence, relevance being decided by the SIO - PSNI agrees appropriate access should be given, but the 'relevance' test is impractical.
4. Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary to review terrorist linked murder enquiries agreed.
5. Review of the role and function of Special Branch Major work is already being done as part of the Patten report recommendations, under the supervision of the Oversight Commissioner.
6. PSNI to adopt the Association of Chief Police Officers policy on murder reviews adopted in principle in April 2001.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1003
Published Date: 31-Jan-02
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