OMAGH BOMB FAMILIES LOOK FORWARD TO NEW BEGINNING AS FLANAGAN TO TAKE UP NEW POST
Omagh bomb families look forward to 'new beginning' as Flanagan to take up new post
THE Chief Constable has been urged to appoint a new senior investigating officer to head up the Omagh bomb inquiry. The plea to Sir Ronnie Flanagan has come from some of the Omagh families, just as Sir Ronnie plans to take up a new job.
He is due to retire from the PSNI at the end of the month, and has been appointed to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Police (HMIC).
There had been some suggestions that Sir Ronnie would stay on until September, but the Home Office announced on Tuesday that he has been appointed to serve on HMIC.
Developments have come thick and fast over the past week, with Omagh families saying they had lost confidence in Sir Ronnie.
His position has been under particular scrutiny since the publication of the Police Ombudsman's report into the Omagh bomb investigation, which was particularly critical of his leadership.
Some of the relatives of those who lost loved ones in the 1998 bomb atrocity have been among Sir Ronnie's critics, and they met on Monday night to discuss the issues.
At that stage news of his new job had not been released, and as well as making a final appeal to Sir Ronnie to appoint a new investigator to head up the investigation, the general consensus was that he should go now.
Commented Mr. Michael Gallagher: "The view of many people is summed up in the words of Oliver Cromwell to King Charles I 'you have been here long enough for any good that you have done; in the name of God go now".
Many Omagh relatives have become increasingly bitter over revelations about the investigation of the bombing. At a meeting late last week, they expressed no confidence in the Chief Constable and said there would be "a new beginning" once he moved on.
Waited
At the meeting on Monday night, it was agreed to send a letter to Sir Ronnie. It said: "For three-and-a-half years we have waited on results of the Omagh bomb investigation We know the current investigation to be flawed, and have lost all confidence.
"We, as bereaved families, now want and feel an independent senior investigation officer is our only chance of gaining criminal prosecutions.
"We now ask you that, in your last days as Chief Constable, can you do this one thing for us."
Copies of the letter have also been sent to the Prime Minister, the Taoiseach, Secretary of State and the chairman of the Policing Board.
Mr. Gallagher told the Tyrone Constitution that the families wanted those behind the bombing caught, and felt the only way that could be achieved was by bringing in a new independent officer to head the investigation.
Mr. Gallagher said it had been argued that continuity was necessary to keep the investigation going, but there appeared to be little continuity.
He pointed out that Sir Ronnie Flanagan was going, two other senior investigators, Eric Anderson and Hamilton Houston had already gone, and Assistant Chief Constable White was also in line to leave.
"Everybody is going, but they are leaving us here without any result," said Mr. Gallagher.
Assembly
The Omagh families also want to meet the Assembly to air their concerns, and they remain disappointed that the Prime Minister and Taoiseach have refused to meet them in recent times.
There has also been disappointment that there has been no response form the main parties for requests for a meeting.
"We feel they have an obligation to listen to us," said Mr. Gallagher.
He said there had been "a deafening silence" from human rights groups and politicians over the Omagh atrocity.
"We have lost out because Omagh wasn't a single identity atrocity. If we had all been from the Protestant community or the Catholic community we would have seen either camp coming out to campaign. Because we have come together as a group from all religions and from no religion, we have suffered," he said.
Sir Ronnie's new role will entail overseeing the work of police forces in England. A date for the start of his new job has yet been confirmed.
Unique expertise
In a statement yesterday (Wednesday) Sir Ronnie said: "This is an acknowledgement of the unique expertise of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and latterly the Police Service of Northern Ireland, in not only the most difficult and dangerous of policing circumstances, but also of being at the forefront of policing reform.
"The men and women I have had the privilege to work with in policing over the last 32 years are simply unsurpassed anywhere in the policing world. Anything I had been able to do is down to them."
The appointment was also welcomed by the chairman of the Policing Board, Professor Desmond Rea, who said he was "delighted" at the appointment.
"The appointment is a tribute to his contribution to the policing of Northern Ireland through 30 difficult years. It is also a tribute to the work of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and of its predecessor body, the RUC, both of which Sir Ronnie has led for some five years."
Transition
Professor Rea said Sir Ronnie had greatly facilitated the transition from RUC to PSNI by the way in which the had embraced and led the agenda of change.
He added: "During his policing career, Sir Ronnie has amassed a wealth of experience, which, no doubt, will be invaluable to the work of HMIC"
The process of appointing a successor to Sir Ronnie is expected to be debated by the Policing Board at a meeting today (Thursday).
Mr. Joe Byrne, West Tyrone MLA, who is a member of the Policing Board, said his party members would work to ensure that the Patten recommendation were implemented in full, and that the new Chief Constable would lead a policing service that was accountable and
representative of all sections of the community.
THE Chief Constable has been urged to appoint a new senior investigating officer to head up the Omagh bomb inquiry. The plea to Sir Ronnie Flanagan has come from some of the Omagh families, just as Sir Ronnie plans to take up a new job.
He is due to retire from the PSNI at the end of the month, and has been appointed to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Police (HMIC).
There had been some suggestions that Sir Ronnie would stay on until September, but the Home Office announced on Tuesday that he has been appointed to serve on HMIC.
Developments have come thick and fast over the past week, with Omagh families saying they had lost confidence in Sir Ronnie.
His position has been under particular scrutiny since the publication of the Police Ombudsman's report into the Omagh bomb investigation, which was particularly critical of his leadership.
Some of the relatives of those who lost loved ones in the 1998 bomb atrocity have been among Sir Ronnie's critics, and they met on Monday night to discuss the issues.
At that stage news of his new job had not been released, and as well as making a final appeal to Sir Ronnie to appoint a new investigator to head up the investigation, the general consensus was that he should go now.
Commented Mr. Michael Gallagher: "The view of many people is summed up in the words of Oliver Cromwell to King Charles I 'you have been here long enough for any good that you have done; in the name of God go now".
Many Omagh relatives have become increasingly bitter over revelations about the investigation of the bombing. At a meeting late last week, they expressed no confidence in the Chief Constable and said there would be "a new beginning" once he moved on.
Waited
At the meeting on Monday night, it was agreed to send a letter to Sir Ronnie. It said: "For three-and-a-half years we have waited on results of the Omagh bomb investigation We know the current investigation to be flawed, and have lost all confidence.
"We, as bereaved families, now want and feel an independent senior investigation officer is our only chance of gaining criminal prosecutions.
"We now ask you that, in your last days as Chief Constable, can you do this one thing for us."
Copies of the letter have also been sent to the Prime Minister, the Taoiseach, Secretary of State and the chairman of the Policing Board.
Mr. Gallagher told the Tyrone Constitution that the families wanted those behind the bombing caught, and felt the only way that could be achieved was by bringing in a new independent officer to head the investigation.
Mr. Gallagher said it had been argued that continuity was necessary to keep the investigation going, but there appeared to be little continuity.
He pointed out that Sir Ronnie Flanagan was going, two other senior investigators, Eric Anderson and Hamilton Houston had already gone, and Assistant Chief Constable White was also in line to leave.
"Everybody is going, but they are leaving us here without any result," said Mr. Gallagher.
Assembly
The Omagh families also want to meet the Assembly to air their concerns, and they remain disappointed that the Prime Minister and Taoiseach have refused to meet them in recent times.
There has also been disappointment that there has been no response form the main parties for requests for a meeting.
"We feel they have an obligation to listen to us," said Mr. Gallagher.
He said there had been "a deafening silence" from human rights groups and politicians over the Omagh atrocity.
"We have lost out because Omagh wasn't a single identity atrocity. If we had all been from the Protestant community or the Catholic community we would have seen either camp coming out to campaign. Because we have come together as a group from all religions and from no religion, we have suffered," he said.
Sir Ronnie's new role will entail overseeing the work of police forces in England. A date for the start of his new job has yet been confirmed.
Unique expertise
In a statement yesterday (Wednesday) Sir Ronnie said: "This is an acknowledgement of the unique expertise of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and latterly the Police Service of Northern Ireland, in not only the most difficult and dangerous of policing circumstances, but also of being at the forefront of policing reform.
"The men and women I have had the privilege to work with in policing over the last 32 years are simply unsurpassed anywhere in the policing world. Anything I had been able to do is down to them."
The appointment was also welcomed by the chairman of the Policing Board, Professor Desmond Rea, who said he was "delighted" at the appointment.
"The appointment is a tribute to his contribution to the policing of Northern Ireland through 30 difficult years. It is also a tribute to the work of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and of its predecessor body, the RUC, both of which Sir Ronnie has led for some five years."
Transition
Professor Rea said Sir Ronnie had greatly facilitated the transition from RUC to PSNI by the way in which the had embraced and led the agenda of change.
He added: "During his policing career, Sir Ronnie has amassed a wealth of experience, which, no doubt, will be invaluable to the work of HMIC"
The process of appointing a successor to Sir Ronnie is expected to be debated by the Policing Board at a meeting today (Thursday).
Mr. Joe Byrne, West Tyrone MLA, who is a member of the Policing Board, said his party members would work to ensure that the Patten recommendation were implemented in full, and that the new Chief Constable would lead a policing service that was accountable and
representative of all sections of the community.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1023
Published Date: 21-Feb-02
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