BOMB FAMILIES RENEW INQUIRY CALL AS DAMNING REPORT DELIVERED
Bomb families renew inquiry call as 'damning' report delivered
by Robert Pollock
BEREAVED families of the 1998 Omagh bombing delivered their 'damning' report to Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Owen Paterson, on Monday.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden (21), was killed in the attack, described the meeting as a "huge step forward" in their quest for a cross-border public inquiry into the Real IRA bombing. And he has claimed that such an inquiry would uncover 'unnerving secrets' of alleged security force failings.
Representatives of Omagh Self Help and Support Group were joined by the report's authors and a representative of British Irish Rights Watch for their meeting with Mr Paterson at Hillsborough Castle.
"We met for approximately one hour and during that time we outlined how the report was compiled and we gave information as to how the findings were made. Mr Paterson will now take time to consult with others and digest the report, but whilst we were there we did lay out the broad thrust of its findings. We did our best to hit home the seriousness of the findings and to make our opinions on these absolutely clear.
"As I have previously said it will make difficult reading for both the jBritish and Irish governments as it outlines systemic failures on both of their parts and leaves a lot of questions as to what could have ben done - it is a very damning report. It brings together our many previous findings into one clear, coherent document and we hope this will pave the way for a public inquiry that is needed," said Mr Gallagher.
The families have made repeated calls for a public inquiry into the atrocity and Mr Gallagher is adamant that the British govern-ment can no longer "hide behind the excuse" that there is an ongoing live inquiry.
"I have no doubt that they will try and deflect this and claim that they cannot proceed with a public inquiry due to the ongoing live Investi-gation. We have little belief in the fact that such an inquiry is taking place and we have drafted our report in I such a fashion that we will seek leave for judicial review should our calls for an inquiry not be granted. Our report will in no way prejudice any ongoing investigation and we do not wish for any more excuses. The time has come where people need to be made aware of what happened on that day and today is certainly a huge step forward," he added.
Mr Gallagher also vented his frustration at the failure of Taoiseach Enda Kenny to commit to a meeting with the families and to be briefed on the contents of the report. "There was certainly a level of support and interest on Mr Kenny's part prior to his election to the office of Taoiseach, but since then he has repeatedly ignored our calls. This is something that could cause some embarrassment to the Irish state and it would be well within their interest to agree to our requests," he added.
The families will now seek a meeting with PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott and Justice Minister David Ford to brief them on the consultants' report into the case.
Mr Paterson gave no indication as to when the families should expect a formal response to the report but he did promise to provide updates of his progress.
Following the Hillsborough tete-a-tete with Mr Paterson the group attended Stormont to meet with the SDLP, who had requested a briefing on the report.
Whilst at Stormont the families had an impromptu meeting with Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mike Nesbitt, and former leader, Tom Elliott.
Mr Gallagher described both meetings as "encouraging" and has been given assurances that both the SDLP and the UUP will move to apply pressure on the Irish state to meet with the families.
"We gave Alex Attwood and Dolores Kelly of the SDLP quite an in-depth briefing on the report and we were certainly encour-aged by their support for the families. . Mr Attwood has promised that he will be raising the issue with the Irish government within the next fortnight and that is welcomed.
"We also met with the UUP who offered their support and Tom Elliott, who has been a long-time supporter of the families and their search for the truth, reaffirmed his commitment to press the Irish government to consent to a meeting," said Mr Gallagher.
Thus far, no attempts have been made to pressurise Sinn Fein - who in their capacity as an all-Ireland party could presumably raise the issue in Dail Eireann -but Mr Gallagher has not ruled out such a possibility.
"It has always been an uncomfortable issue dealing with Sinn Fein because we are aware of where they have come from but I do accept that in politics, to make things happen, you have to speak and deal with people you don't necessarily agree with," he added.
At the time of going to press, Justice Minister David Ford stated any cross-border inquiry into the Omagh bombing would be a matter for the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and not the Department of Justice.
The NIO is responsible for overseeing the Northern Ireland devolution settlement and representing Northern Ireland interests at UK government level and UK government interests in Northern Ireland.
by Robert Pollock
BEREAVED families of the 1998 Omagh bombing delivered their 'damning' report to Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Owen Paterson, on Monday.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden (21), was killed in the attack, described the meeting as a "huge step forward" in their quest for a cross-border public inquiry into the Real IRA bombing. And he has claimed that such an inquiry would uncover 'unnerving secrets' of alleged security force failings.
Representatives of Omagh Self Help and Support Group were joined by the report's authors and a representative of British Irish Rights Watch for their meeting with Mr Paterson at Hillsborough Castle.
"We met for approximately one hour and during that time we outlined how the report was compiled and we gave information as to how the findings were made. Mr Paterson will now take time to consult with others and digest the report, but whilst we were there we did lay out the broad thrust of its findings. We did our best to hit home the seriousness of the findings and to make our opinions on these absolutely clear.
"As I have previously said it will make difficult reading for both the jBritish and Irish governments as it outlines systemic failures on both of their parts and leaves a lot of questions as to what could have ben done - it is a very damning report. It brings together our many previous findings into one clear, coherent document and we hope this will pave the way for a public inquiry that is needed," said Mr Gallagher.
The families have made repeated calls for a public inquiry into the atrocity and Mr Gallagher is adamant that the British govern-ment can no longer "hide behind the excuse" that there is an ongoing live inquiry.
"I have no doubt that they will try and deflect this and claim that they cannot proceed with a public inquiry due to the ongoing live Investi-gation. We have little belief in the fact that such an inquiry is taking place and we have drafted our report in I such a fashion that we will seek leave for judicial review should our calls for an inquiry not be granted. Our report will in no way prejudice any ongoing investigation and we do not wish for any more excuses. The time has come where people need to be made aware of what happened on that day and today is certainly a huge step forward," he added.
Mr Gallagher also vented his frustration at the failure of Taoiseach Enda Kenny to commit to a meeting with the families and to be briefed on the contents of the report. "There was certainly a level of support and interest on Mr Kenny's part prior to his election to the office of Taoiseach, but since then he has repeatedly ignored our calls. This is something that could cause some embarrassment to the Irish state and it would be well within their interest to agree to our requests," he added.
The families will now seek a meeting with PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott and Justice Minister David Ford to brief them on the consultants' report into the case.
Mr Paterson gave no indication as to when the families should expect a formal response to the report but he did promise to provide updates of his progress.
Following the Hillsborough tete-a-tete with Mr Paterson the group attended Stormont to meet with the SDLP, who had requested a briefing on the report.
Whilst at Stormont the families had an impromptu meeting with Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mike Nesbitt, and former leader, Tom Elliott.
Mr Gallagher described both meetings as "encouraging" and has been given assurances that both the SDLP and the UUP will move to apply pressure on the Irish state to meet with the families.
"We gave Alex Attwood and Dolores Kelly of the SDLP quite an in-depth briefing on the report and we were certainly encour-aged by their support for the families. . Mr Attwood has promised that he will be raising the issue with the Irish government within the next fortnight and that is welcomed.
"We also met with the UUP who offered their support and Tom Elliott, who has been a long-time supporter of the families and their search for the truth, reaffirmed his commitment to press the Irish government to consent to a meeting," said Mr Gallagher.
Thus far, no attempts have been made to pressurise Sinn Fein - who in their capacity as an all-Ireland party could presumably raise the issue in Dail Eireann -but Mr Gallagher has not ruled out such a possibility.
"It has always been an uncomfortable issue dealing with Sinn Fein because we are aware of where they have come from but I do accept that in politics, to make things happen, you have to speak and deal with people you don't necessarily agree with," he added.
At the time of going to press, Justice Minister David Ford stated any cross-border inquiry into the Omagh bombing would be a matter for the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and not the Department of Justice.
The NIO is responsible for overseeing the Northern Ireland devolution settlement and representing Northern Ireland interests at UK government level and UK government interests in Northern Ireland.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/2020
Published Date: 21-Jun-12
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