SEARCH FOR OMAGH BOMBERS BIGGEST POLICE OPERATION IN EUROPE
Search for Omagh bombers 'biggest police operation in Europe'
POLICE detectives involved in the search for the Omagh bombers, have revealed that the operation has been one of the largest ever carried out in Europe.
The Real IRA claimed responsibility for the bomb in which 29 people were killed and more than 250 were injured, but so far, Dundalk man, Colm Murphy is the only person against whom charges have been brought. His trial will be held in Dublin later this year.
Details of the investigation have been published in a new updated version of the best selling book, 'RUC: Force Under Fire.'
As the hunt for the Omagh bombers continues, the RUC operation has already interviewed 6,000 possible witnesses and conducted 3,500 door to door enquiries. Statements have also been taken from 2,600 people.
Additionally, the investigation team have combed through records of 500 million phone calls in South Armagh and Omagh before and after the bomb on August 15 1998.
Hi-tech equipment has been used to track calls to and from certain telephone numbers in the hope of locating suspects.
A total of 78 people have been questioned about the atrocity, on both sides of the border.
The book revealed that, during the massive operation, 400 items were examined by forensic scientists. The Forensic team have also been able to reconstruct parts of the bomb.
However, the author of the book, Chris Ryder who is a former member of the Police Authority, said that he knows from interviews with RUC officers how disappointed they are that they have not been able to bring charges against those under suspicion.
The officer leading the hunt, Deputy Assistant Chief Constable Eric Anderson confirmed that the investigation is still very much alive.
He explained that the police force had used the most recent technology available in Europe to assist with the enquiry, and said that no stone had been left unturned in terms of gathering evidence.
POLICE detectives involved in the search for the Omagh bombers, have revealed that the operation has been one of the largest ever carried out in Europe.
The Real IRA claimed responsibility for the bomb in which 29 people were killed and more than 250 were injured, but so far, Dundalk man, Colm Murphy is the only person against whom charges have been brought. His trial will be held in Dublin later this year.
Details of the investigation have been published in a new updated version of the best selling book, 'RUC: Force Under Fire.'
As the hunt for the Omagh bombers continues, the RUC operation has already interviewed 6,000 possible witnesses and conducted 3,500 door to door enquiries. Statements have also been taken from 2,600 people.
Additionally, the investigation team have combed through records of 500 million phone calls in South Armagh and Omagh before and after the bomb on August 15 1998.
Hi-tech equipment has been used to track calls to and from certain telephone numbers in the hope of locating suspects.
A total of 78 people have been questioned about the atrocity, on both sides of the border.
The book revealed that, during the massive operation, 400 items were examined by forensic scientists. The Forensic team have also been able to reconstruct parts of the bomb.
However, the author of the book, Chris Ryder who is a former member of the Police Authority, said that he knows from interviews with RUC officers how disappointed they are that they have not been able to bring charges against those under suspicion.
The officer leading the hunt, Deputy Assistant Chief Constable Eric Anderson confirmed that the investigation is still very much alive.
He explained that the police force had used the most recent technology available in Europe to assist with the enquiry, and said that no stone had been left unturned in terms of gathering evidence.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1430
Published Date: 20-Jan-00
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