OMAGH FAMILIES CONTINUE IN QUEST FOR CROSS-BORDER INQUIRY
Omagh families continue in quest for cross-border inquiry
by Louise Scott
OMAGH Support and Self Help Group members travelled to Dublin this week to meet the Irish Human Rights Commissioner, Mr Maurice Manning.
The meeting was organised in a bid to gain support in backing a full cross-border public inquiry into the events surrounding the 1998 Omagh bombing, which killed 29 people.
Michael Gallagher, chairman of the organisation, was part of a delegation of relatives from Omagh who travelled to Dublin. He was keen to acknowledge the success of the meeting.
He said: "I think we achieved a lot through the meeting. It was promising as all 15 commissioners were there along with Chief Commissioner, Mr Maurice Manning."
When asked about the content of the meeting, he said: "The meeting followed a visit to Omagh by the commissioners last year, when they had agreed to a presentation being made to the Board. The presentation outlined the facts representing our view that we should have a full cross-border public inquiry.
"The presentation took about an hour and after it, the commissioners commented on what they would do to set up the cross-border initiative. They added that they would need to look at all the information and make the decision along with the Northern Ireland Commissioner. We hope that following this a cross-border public inquiry will be launched."
The group has been consistent in its call for cross-border communication over the bombing and had previously asked the Irish Government to hold an inquiry into how the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the Garda, and the courts, had handled the case.
Previously the Irish Government had ruled out a cross-border inquiry as they considered it to be "inappropriate while criminal proceedings are pending".
The families in the support group have pursued their own legal case and hope to bring to justice people they believe were responsible for Northern Ireland's worst single atrocity.
The meeting comes as a judge declared on Friday that the only man to face charges over the massacre, Sean Hoey, will stand trial in September. The judge threw out an application by lawyers acting for the Jonesborough electrician for the charges to be dropped.
by Louise Scott
OMAGH Support and Self Help Group members travelled to Dublin this week to meet the Irish Human Rights Commissioner, Mr Maurice Manning.
The meeting was organised in a bid to gain support in backing a full cross-border public inquiry into the events surrounding the 1998 Omagh bombing, which killed 29 people.
Michael Gallagher, chairman of the organisation, was part of a delegation of relatives from Omagh who travelled to Dublin. He was keen to acknowledge the success of the meeting.
He said: "I think we achieved a lot through the meeting. It was promising as all 15 commissioners were there along with Chief Commissioner, Mr Maurice Manning."
When asked about the content of the meeting, he said: "The meeting followed a visit to Omagh by the commissioners last year, when they had agreed to a presentation being made to the Board. The presentation outlined the facts representing our view that we should have a full cross-border public inquiry.
"The presentation took about an hour and after it, the commissioners commented on what they would do to set up the cross-border initiative. They added that they would need to look at all the information and make the decision along with the Northern Ireland Commissioner. We hope that following this a cross-border public inquiry will be launched."
The group has been consistent in its call for cross-border communication over the bombing and had previously asked the Irish Government to hold an inquiry into how the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the Garda, and the courts, had handled the case.
Previously the Irish Government had ruled out a cross-border inquiry as they considered it to be "inappropriate while criminal proceedings are pending".
The families in the support group have pursued their own legal case and hope to bring to justice people they believe were responsible for Northern Ireland's worst single atrocity.
The meeting comes as a judge declared on Friday that the only man to face charges over the massacre, Sean Hoey, will stand trial in September. The judge threw out an application by lawyers acting for the Jonesborough electrician for the charges to be dropped.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1834
Published Date: 04-May-06
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.