PM PRESSED BY OMAGH BOMB FAMILIES IN LAST RESORT MEETING
PM pressed by Omagh bomb families in 'last resort meeting'
by Peter Kelly in Downing Street
Families of those killed by the Omagh bomb pleaded last Wednesday with Gordon Brown to "bring closure to Omagh and end our suffering".
Speaking in Downing Street after a tense 90-minute meeting with the Prime Minister, relatives of those killed in the 1998 attack took Gordon Brown to task over the government's treatment of Northern Ireland victims.
The Prime Minister was flanked by Lord Mandelson, Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward and PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde who each defended the government's record.
Former Secretary of State Peter Mandleson's presence was seen as an attempt to placate the families. He has personally donated �10,000 to their legal fund and has previously reportedly broken down in tears when talking with the group.
The families' spokesman Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Aidan in the attack, however urged the Prime Minister to "adopt a can-do attitude and work with us".
Mr Brown came under fire from the bomb relatives regarding a recent BBC Panorama programme alleging GCHQ intelligence could have dramatically assisted the investigation if its monitoring of the bomb car in transit had been passed onto the Omagh investigation team.
Reporter John Ware's account was criticised by Sir Peter Gibson's report dramatically ordered by the Prime Minister in the wake of the broadcast.
"We presented Gordon Brown with Mr Ware's 23 page, 91-paragraph rebuttal of Sir Peter's report and we still demand answers," Mr Gallagher said.
"The Prime Minister gave commitments to 'look at the issues brought up and help he families wherever possible' but we need urgent action not kind words," Mr Gallagher said.
The bomb relatives also urged Mr Brown to assist their London-based legal team in handing over intelligence reports for their ongoing landmark civil action in Belfast Crown Court. The 'Omagh Five' are defending allegations that they were behind the August 1998 atrocity which claimed the lives of 29 and unborn twins.
Victor Barker, whose son James was killed in the attack, heavily criticised the Prime Minister and former RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan.
He told the Tyrone Constitution: "Mr Brown was frank and honest with us, but I don't believe we've been given the whole truth whatsoever.
"I also want to know why the two most important people weren't at that meeting. Ronnie Flanagan and John Ware."
He revealed that the delegation was left with the impression that the government has given up on pursuing the suspects through the criminal courts.
"The message from Downing Street is that this is the end of the road for the investigation," he said.
Mr Barker, a Surrey-based solicitor then repeated his dramatic call for Sir Ronnie Flanagan, now Chief Inspector of Constabularies of the UK, to resign.
The delegation was joined afterwards by their legal team, led by London solicitor Jason McCue who was controversially refused admission into No. 10.
Mr McCue was sceptical about the timing of the Downing Street discussions.
"This is yet more burying bad news tactics from this government as they flood the newsrooms with more recession news," he said.
"But we still need them to deliver for us and our historic court case in Belfast. And fast."
by Peter Kelly in Downing Street
Families of those killed by the Omagh bomb pleaded last Wednesday with Gordon Brown to "bring closure to Omagh and end our suffering".
Speaking in Downing Street after a tense 90-minute meeting with the Prime Minister, relatives of those killed in the 1998 attack took Gordon Brown to task over the government's treatment of Northern Ireland victims.
The Prime Minister was flanked by Lord Mandelson, Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward and PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde who each defended the government's record.
Former Secretary of State Peter Mandleson's presence was seen as an attempt to placate the families. He has personally donated �10,000 to their legal fund and has previously reportedly broken down in tears when talking with the group.
The families' spokesman Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Aidan in the attack, however urged the Prime Minister to "adopt a can-do attitude and work with us".
Mr Brown came under fire from the bomb relatives regarding a recent BBC Panorama programme alleging GCHQ intelligence could have dramatically assisted the investigation if its monitoring of the bomb car in transit had been passed onto the Omagh investigation team.
Reporter John Ware's account was criticised by Sir Peter Gibson's report dramatically ordered by the Prime Minister in the wake of the broadcast.
"We presented Gordon Brown with Mr Ware's 23 page, 91-paragraph rebuttal of Sir Peter's report and we still demand answers," Mr Gallagher said.
"The Prime Minister gave commitments to 'look at the issues brought up and help he families wherever possible' but we need urgent action not kind words," Mr Gallagher said.
The bomb relatives also urged Mr Brown to assist their London-based legal team in handing over intelligence reports for their ongoing landmark civil action in Belfast Crown Court. The 'Omagh Five' are defending allegations that they were behind the August 1998 atrocity which claimed the lives of 29 and unborn twins.
Victor Barker, whose son James was killed in the attack, heavily criticised the Prime Minister and former RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan.
He told the Tyrone Constitution: "Mr Brown was frank and honest with us, but I don't believe we've been given the whole truth whatsoever.
"I also want to know why the two most important people weren't at that meeting. Ronnie Flanagan and John Ware."
He revealed that the delegation was left with the impression that the government has given up on pursuing the suspects through the criminal courts.
"The message from Downing Street is that this is the end of the road for the investigation," he said.
Mr Barker, a Surrey-based solicitor then repeated his dramatic call for Sir Ronnie Flanagan, now Chief Inspector of Constabularies of the UK, to resign.
The delegation was joined afterwards by their legal team, led by London solicitor Jason McCue who was controversially refused admission into No. 10.
Mr McCue was sceptical about the timing of the Downing Street discussions.
"This is yet more burying bad news tactics from this government as they flood the newsrooms with more recession news," he said.
"But we still need them to deliver for us and our historic court case in Belfast. And fast."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1975
Published Date: 19-Feb-09
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