OMAGH FAMILIES AIR CONCERNS TO POLICING BOARD MEMBERS
Omagh families air concerns to Policing Board members
by Emma Stewart
The families of those murdered in the 1998 Omagh bomb atrocity met with members of the NI Policing Board yesterday (Wednesday), to voice concerns over the recent bomb verdict, which meted out scathing criticisms of police processes throughout the Omagh investigation.
The meeting, planned for Omagh's South West College, was to be the first time that the families have come face-to-face with any government body, since the acquittal of south Armagh electrician, Sean Hoey, in December of last year.
A statement from Omagh Support and Self Help Group called the meeting an opportunity for the "families to voice their concerns about the trial which lasted 56 days and ended with a damning indictment of police and forensic science standards", and Concluded: "The families are hoping that all members of the Policing Board will attend to hear their concerns and their views on a way forward."
Speaking ahead of the much-sought meeting, Mr Michael Gallagher, whose son, Aidan, was killed in the 1998 attack, said: "After the Omagh bomb trial a number of meetings went on in Belfast, and it was decided that someone would be appointed to review the investigation.
"At this stage we were concerned. We have something to say, and we were concerned that no one was listening. Now the Policing Board have agreed to come to Omagh and give us the opportunity to question them on how they see things progressing from here and, more importantly, to allow us to tell them what we are thinking."
Continuing the intense media scrutiny of the Omagh families' plight, a broadcast, planned for February 4, by UTV Insight, has vowed to put 'the authorities in the dock' over their failure to convict, and indeed the damning revelations over police processes which accompanied Mr Justice Weir's verdict.
In his remarks, the trial judge had identified elements of 'deliberate and calculated deception' by two PSNI officers, as well as a more general 'cavalier disregard' for the integrity of material evidence throughout the Omagh investigation.
This latest gesture by the Policing Board towards addressing the Omagh 'issue' comes as former RUC chief constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, last week offered an apology to victims' families.
Mr Flanagan told Channel 4 News he was 'desperately sorry' people had not yet been brought to justice.
Although subsequently insisting that he would not resign from his current post, as her Majesty's Chief Inspector of constabulary, he said: "I publicly apologise to all those families and all those victims; to all those who were injured, without reservation".
He added: "Of course as chief constable, I have to take responsibility for the shortcomings that the judge highlighted and I take responsibility for those shortcomings".
by Emma Stewart
The families of those murdered in the 1998 Omagh bomb atrocity met with members of the NI Policing Board yesterday (Wednesday), to voice concerns over the recent bomb verdict, which meted out scathing criticisms of police processes throughout the Omagh investigation.
The meeting, planned for Omagh's South West College, was to be the first time that the families have come face-to-face with any government body, since the acquittal of south Armagh electrician, Sean Hoey, in December of last year.
A statement from Omagh Support and Self Help Group called the meeting an opportunity for the "families to voice their concerns about the trial which lasted 56 days and ended with a damning indictment of police and forensic science standards", and Concluded: "The families are hoping that all members of the Policing Board will attend to hear their concerns and their views on a way forward."
Speaking ahead of the much-sought meeting, Mr Michael Gallagher, whose son, Aidan, was killed in the 1998 attack, said: "After the Omagh bomb trial a number of meetings went on in Belfast, and it was decided that someone would be appointed to review the investigation.
"At this stage we were concerned. We have something to say, and we were concerned that no one was listening. Now the Policing Board have agreed to come to Omagh and give us the opportunity to question them on how they see things progressing from here and, more importantly, to allow us to tell them what we are thinking."
Continuing the intense media scrutiny of the Omagh families' plight, a broadcast, planned for February 4, by UTV Insight, has vowed to put 'the authorities in the dock' over their failure to convict, and indeed the damning revelations over police processes which accompanied Mr Justice Weir's verdict.
In his remarks, the trial judge had identified elements of 'deliberate and calculated deception' by two PSNI officers, as well as a more general 'cavalier disregard' for the integrity of material evidence throughout the Omagh investigation.
This latest gesture by the Policing Board towards addressing the Omagh 'issue' comes as former RUC chief constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, last week offered an apology to victims' families.
Mr Flanagan told Channel 4 News he was 'desperately sorry' people had not yet been brought to justice.
Although subsequently insisting that he would not resign from his current post, as her Majesty's Chief Inspector of constabulary, he said: "I publicly apologise to all those families and all those victims; to all those who were injured, without reservation".
He added: "Of course as chief constable, I have to take responsibility for the shortcomings that the judge highlighted and I take responsibility for those shortcomings".
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1913
Published Date: 31-Jan-08
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