WHO BY THEIR SILENCE IS BLOCKING JUSTICE FOR OMAGH - LORD MORROW
Who, by their silence, is blocking justice' for Omagh? - Lord Morrow
by Emma Stewart
Lord Maurice Morrow, Fermanagh and South Tyrone DUP MLA, has said that intelligence surrounding the Omagh bomb must be made available to investigators - "We must know who was judge, jury and executioner of the innocent".
Following the announcement last week that Prime Minister Gordon Brown has ordered a review of the intelligence material from the 1998 atrocity, former NI First Minister David Trimble has also urged the PM to 'urgently' release the covertly recorded conversations to lawyers representing the families in the ongoing Omagh civil case.
Lord Morrow's statement comes as the families demanded that GCHQ covert recordings of at least two of the bombers communicating before and after the bomb went off - revealed by the BBC's Panorama programme - be subject to investigation.
"I fully support the call from the Omagh victims' families to have these matters and any other pertinent information handed over to die investigation team forthwith," the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA said.
"Indeed, I am prepared to lay my concerns about this matter before the House of Lords.
"Whilst I will never forget who the real perpetrators were, I am deeply concerned by reports of intelligence being withheld from not only this investigation but other investigations throughout the history of the Troubles," Lord Morrow added.
Saying that it is the 'moral duty' of the government is to ensure that every crime is fully investigated - and given that the perpetrators of the Omagh bomb are 'are walking amongst us' - he emphasised that "all steps should be taken to assist this investigation".
"The BBC programme has opened an additional vast chasm of unanswered questions. For too long the attending police officers bore the brunt of criticism, but it would appear intelligence was not passed to them," he said.
"While some have been very swift to blame the RUC, it would seem through no fault of the RUC, that the police have been hampered from properly investigating the crime.
"No stone should be left unturned in the quest for justice for the families and friends of victims caught up in the bloodbath, which was in Omagh that day. How anyone could watch the pitiful images played worldwide and not feel torn inside is beyond comprehension.
"If there is intelligence in existence, those who sought to withhold it must be made accountable. The families and Northern Ireland have suffered enough. While I accept that the truth will out in time. It is too late for the families left mourning a loved one.
"We must know who was judge, jury and executioner of the innocent. Who held back information which could have averted this horrific crime? Similarly who, by their silence, is blocking justice?"
Likewise, in a letter signed by fellow peer Baron Bew, the Professor of Irish Politics at Queen's University, and British Labour MP Dave Anderson, former UUP leader, Lord Trimble, said that public servants should be able to assist the lawyers and give evidence without fear of prosecution or punishment.
Intelligence recordings and transcripts surrounding the Omagh tragedy, he said, should be made available to the lawyers acting in the civil case.
Noting that "time is short", as the end of the civil case approaches, Lord Trimble added: "The internal review you have announced will help establish if the bombers' phone calls were monitored in real time, why intelligence was not passed to the investigation team and what lessons can be learned for the future."
The Prime Minister has invited the Rt Hon Sir Peter Gibson, the Intelligence Services Commissioner, to review the intercepted intelligence material available to the security and intelligence agencies in relation to the Omagh bombing and how it was shared.
by Emma Stewart
Lord Maurice Morrow, Fermanagh and South Tyrone DUP MLA, has said that intelligence surrounding the Omagh bomb must be made available to investigators - "We must know who was judge, jury and executioner of the innocent".
Following the announcement last week that Prime Minister Gordon Brown has ordered a review of the intelligence material from the 1998 atrocity, former NI First Minister David Trimble has also urged the PM to 'urgently' release the covertly recorded conversations to lawyers representing the families in the ongoing Omagh civil case.
Lord Morrow's statement comes as the families demanded that GCHQ covert recordings of at least two of the bombers communicating before and after the bomb went off - revealed by the BBC's Panorama programme - be subject to investigation.
"I fully support the call from the Omagh victims' families to have these matters and any other pertinent information handed over to die investigation team forthwith," the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA said.
"Indeed, I am prepared to lay my concerns about this matter before the House of Lords.
"Whilst I will never forget who the real perpetrators were, I am deeply concerned by reports of intelligence being withheld from not only this investigation but other investigations throughout the history of the Troubles," Lord Morrow added.
Saying that it is the 'moral duty' of the government is to ensure that every crime is fully investigated - and given that the perpetrators of the Omagh bomb are 'are walking amongst us' - he emphasised that "all steps should be taken to assist this investigation".
"The BBC programme has opened an additional vast chasm of unanswered questions. For too long the attending police officers bore the brunt of criticism, but it would appear intelligence was not passed to them," he said.
"While some have been very swift to blame the RUC, it would seem through no fault of the RUC, that the police have been hampered from properly investigating the crime.
"No stone should be left unturned in the quest for justice for the families and friends of victims caught up in the bloodbath, which was in Omagh that day. How anyone could watch the pitiful images played worldwide and not feel torn inside is beyond comprehension.
"If there is intelligence in existence, those who sought to withhold it must be made accountable. The families and Northern Ireland have suffered enough. While I accept that the truth will out in time. It is too late for the families left mourning a loved one.
"We must know who was judge, jury and executioner of the innocent. Who held back information which could have averted this horrific crime? Similarly who, by their silence, is blocking justice?"
Likewise, in a letter signed by fellow peer Baron Bew, the Professor of Irish Politics at Queen's University, and British Labour MP Dave Anderson, former UUP leader, Lord Trimble, said that public servants should be able to assist the lawyers and give evidence without fear of prosecution or punishment.
Intelligence recordings and transcripts surrounding the Omagh tragedy, he said, should be made available to the lawyers acting in the civil case.
Noting that "time is short", as the end of the civil case approaches, Lord Trimble added: "The internal review you have announced will help establish if the bombers' phone calls were monitored in real time, why intelligence was not passed to the investigation team and what lessons can be learned for the future."
The Prime Minister has invited the Rt Hon Sir Peter Gibson, the Intelligence Services Commissioner, to review the intercepted intelligence material available to the security and intelligence agencies in relation to the Omagh bombing and how it was shared.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1966
Published Date: 25-Sep-08
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