NEED FOR PUBLIC ENQUIRY INTO OMAGH BOMB CONTROVERSY CLEARER THAN EVER - CLAIM
Need for public inquiry into Omagh bomb controversy clearer than ever - claim
Relatives raise their concerns with Home Secretary
ONLY an open and transparent public inquiry can now resolve the issues and controversy associated with the Omagh bombing, Mr Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Self-Help Group, said this week.
He was speaking in the aftermath of continuing development.
On Thursday of last week a delegation representing bereaved and injured families met the Home Secretary, on the same day as the Dublin Government announced it had set up an inquiry into allegations that Garda information was not passed on to the RUC.
Then, at the weekend, it was claimed that sensitive documents relating to police agents, including the informer who sparked off the Police Ombudsman's investigation, Kevin Fulton, were in the hands of paramilitaries.
Commenting on the developments, Mr Gallagher said the need for a public inquiry was clearer now than ever.
"We have had an investigation of an investigation in the north and now we are having an investigation of an investigation in the south", Mr Gallagher said. "Surely a public inquiry that is open and transparent is the only way forward."
He added: "The Omagh story has at some time got to come to an end."
He said that the silence of politicians was 'deafening'. Had it been any other issue, they would have been 'shouting the house down,' Mr Gallagher said.
Meanwhile, Mr Gallagher was accompanied to the meeting with David Blunkett by Mr Clive McCombe, Mr Kevin Skelton, Mr Victor Barker and Mr Billy Jamieson.
He said that a number of issues had been raised in a meeting that lasted longer than scheduled.
The delegation had impressed on Mr Blunkett their view that the British Government had not acted as strongly as the US Government in the reaction to the September 11 fight against terrorism.
He was also told that many Omagh families believed there was not the cooperation between police forces north and South of the border that the two governments had promised after the August 1998 attack.
Compensation
Among other issues raised was the question of compensation, which is still outstanding as the fourth anniversary of the bombing approaches.
And, speaking in London after the meeting, Mr Barker said that families believed they had been lied to by the two Governments.
He said significant action and leadership was now required from both governments if the families were ever to have the belief that a full joint investigation was to take place.
"We now call, and seek support, for a full meeting with both governments so that an appropriate strategy for the future can be put in place," he said.
In a statement issued after the meeting, Mr Blunkett said he extended his deepest sympathies to all those who had suffered as a result of the Omagh atrocity.
Concerns
"In our meeting today 1 listened carefully to the concerns of the Omagh victims. I am willing to look at any assistance I can provide, and I will be discussing the group's concerns with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
"The Government is resolved to tackle terrorism in all its forms, and all those who support it. We are determined to see that all those responsible for the Omagh bombing are brought to justice. We owe this to the victims and will continue our efforts to this end."
The Dublin Government has set up a panel of three former civil servants to investigate claims that the Garda Siochana failed to act on a tip-off indicating Real IRA activity in the days before the Omagh bombing.
It has been claimed that a Garda sergeant in Co Donegal received information about dissident republican activities, and although he informed his superiors, the information was never passed on to the RUC.
The sergeant, who is currently under suspension as part of an unrelated investigation into alleged Garda corruption in Co Donegal, has said that a proven informer told him of preparation by the Real IRA four days before the August 1998 attack in Omagh.
He has said his informer told him he had been asked to procure a car for an attack, then told it was not needed as sufficient other vehicles had been obtained.
Explosives
The Garda claims the informer's bona fides were established by the fact that he provided the information that led to the seizure of a car containing explosives at Dun Laoghaire several weeks before the Omagh atrocity.
The sergeant has claimed he passed information to his superiors but no action was taken and the information was not passed on to the RUC.
The sergeant was introduced to Nuala O'Loan, the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman, by Mr Gallagher.
Mrs O'Loan is believed to have judged there were no misgivings about the RUC in relation to the claim, but passed her concerns on to Brian Cowen, the Republic's Foreign Minister.
While senior anti-terrorist officers in Dublin have refuted the sergeant's claims, a panel has been appointed to investigate them.
One senior officer said there was nothing in the information that related specifically to Omagh. Information that Gardai had was passed on to the RUC, he said.
Relatives raise their concerns with Home Secretary
ONLY an open and transparent public inquiry can now resolve the issues and controversy associated with the Omagh bombing, Mr Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Self-Help Group, said this week.
He was speaking in the aftermath of continuing development.
On Thursday of last week a delegation representing bereaved and injured families met the Home Secretary, on the same day as the Dublin Government announced it had set up an inquiry into allegations that Garda information was not passed on to the RUC.
Then, at the weekend, it was claimed that sensitive documents relating to police agents, including the informer who sparked off the Police Ombudsman's investigation, Kevin Fulton, were in the hands of paramilitaries.
Commenting on the developments, Mr Gallagher said the need for a public inquiry was clearer now than ever.
"We have had an investigation of an investigation in the north and now we are having an investigation of an investigation in the south", Mr Gallagher said. "Surely a public inquiry that is open and transparent is the only way forward."
He added: "The Omagh story has at some time got to come to an end."
He said that the silence of politicians was 'deafening'. Had it been any other issue, they would have been 'shouting the house down,' Mr Gallagher said.
Meanwhile, Mr Gallagher was accompanied to the meeting with David Blunkett by Mr Clive McCombe, Mr Kevin Skelton, Mr Victor Barker and Mr Billy Jamieson.
He said that a number of issues had been raised in a meeting that lasted longer than scheduled.
The delegation had impressed on Mr Blunkett their view that the British Government had not acted as strongly as the US Government in the reaction to the September 11 fight against terrorism.
He was also told that many Omagh families believed there was not the cooperation between police forces north and South of the border that the two governments had promised after the August 1998 attack.
Compensation
Among other issues raised was the question of compensation, which is still outstanding as the fourth anniversary of the bombing approaches.
And, speaking in London after the meeting, Mr Barker said that families believed they had been lied to by the two Governments.
He said significant action and leadership was now required from both governments if the families were ever to have the belief that a full joint investigation was to take place.
"We now call, and seek support, for a full meeting with both governments so that an appropriate strategy for the future can be put in place," he said.
In a statement issued after the meeting, Mr Blunkett said he extended his deepest sympathies to all those who had suffered as a result of the Omagh atrocity.
Concerns
"In our meeting today 1 listened carefully to the concerns of the Omagh victims. I am willing to look at any assistance I can provide, and I will be discussing the group's concerns with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
"The Government is resolved to tackle terrorism in all its forms, and all those who support it. We are determined to see that all those responsible for the Omagh bombing are brought to justice. We owe this to the victims and will continue our efforts to this end."
The Dublin Government has set up a panel of three former civil servants to investigate claims that the Garda Siochana failed to act on a tip-off indicating Real IRA activity in the days before the Omagh bombing.
It has been claimed that a Garda sergeant in Co Donegal received information about dissident republican activities, and although he informed his superiors, the information was never passed on to the RUC.
The sergeant, who is currently under suspension as part of an unrelated investigation into alleged Garda corruption in Co Donegal, has said that a proven informer told him of preparation by the Real IRA four days before the August 1998 attack in Omagh.
He has said his informer told him he had been asked to procure a car for an attack, then told it was not needed as sufficient other vehicles had been obtained.
Explosives
The Garda claims the informer's bona fides were established by the fact that he provided the information that led to the seizure of a car containing explosives at Dun Laoghaire several weeks before the Omagh atrocity.
The sergeant has claimed he passed information to his superiors but no action was taken and the information was not passed on to the RUC.
The sergeant was introduced to Nuala O'Loan, the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman, by Mr Gallagher.
Mrs O'Loan is believed to have judged there were no misgivings about the RUC in relation to the claim, but passed her concerns on to Brian Cowen, the Republic's Foreign Minister.
While senior anti-terrorist officers in Dublin have refuted the sergeant's claims, a panel has been appointed to investigate them.
One senior officer said there was nothing in the information that related specifically to Omagh. Information that Gardai had was passed on to the RUC, he said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1049
Published Date: 16-May-02
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