OMAGH BOMB VICTIMS FAMILIES TO MEET WITH IRISH JUSTICE MINISTER
Omagh bomb victims' families to meet with Irish Justice minister
by Robert Pollock
BEREAVED relatives of the Omagh bomb victims will meet with Irish Justice minister, Alan Shatter, tomorrow (Thursday) to discuss the contents of their privately commissioned report on the atrocity.
Mr Shatter's department contacted Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden (21) was killed in the 1998 Real IRA attack, on Monday of this week to invite representatives of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group to Dail Eireann.
Last month the group delivered their report to Northern Ireland Secretary of Sate, Owen Paterson, and owing to the fact that its contents directly concern the Irish state's police authorities this meeting was much sought.
The welcome invite comes in the wake of a "very successful" visit to Westminster last week where the families conducted three meetings with senior figures from both houses.
Mr Gallagher described the trio of talks as "extremely encouraging" and stated that all of those whom the families met were "genuinely supportive" of their cause.
"The meetings held last week gave us much to be encouraged about. We first met with the Northern Ireland Select Committee, a meeting that was attended by Lady Sylvia Hermon, Naomi Long and Dr Alasdair McDonnell, amongst others. It was a very informative meeting and Kate Hoey, a labour MP, certainly threw her weight behind our call for an inquiry.
"We then met with a number of Lords and Baronesses, including Lord Trimble and Baroness O'Loan. That meeting was chaired by Lord Eames and again it was a success. A number of the lords have asked to be briefed privately about the report and I think that is a clear indication of the interest in our fight for a inquiry.
"Our final meeting was with Shadow Secretary of State, Vernon Croaker, who did recently direct a question to Mr Paterson on the floor of the House of Commons. He too wishes for a private consultation on the report so as to allow him to better challenge the Prime Minister on the issue of a public inquiry.
"Overall the day was a great step forward and when we learnt of Mr Shatter's invite today (Monday) it provided another boost. We have wanted this for quite some time and now we finally have our date," said Mr Gallagher.
Mr Gallagher also revealed that the families may attempt to arrange a meeting with the US Embassy in London, due to the fact that the report frequently refers to an American agent who was working in Northern Ireland at the time of the bombing.
"Whilst I am limited as to what I can say on the report I can confirm that we are considering a meeting with Barbara Stephenson who served as a US Consul General in Belfast from 2001-2004. She is now based in London and we feel that it might be wise to meet with an American representative because America comes up time and time again in the report," he added.
The relatives have yet to receive a confirmed date for a joint-meeting with PSNI Chief Constable, Matt Baggott and Northern Ireland Justice Minister, David Ford.
Mr Gallagher is anxious to meet with both men as soon as possible, not least because the final decision-maker, Mr Paterson, stated in the Commons that the families should meet with them before he does.
The Tyrone Constitution contacted the Chief Constable's office to find out when a meeting with the families was likely, however, a spokesperson said that while they could confirm that a 'request had been made' the details of such a meeting would be a 'private matter'.
The Omagh families will be joined at tomorrow's meeting by the report's co-author Martin Bridger. Mr Bridger led the investigation into the Omagh bombing on behalf of the Ombudsman's
Office in Northern Ireland in 2002.
That report concluded that the judgement and leadership of the then Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, and the assistant chief constable of the crime division was "seriously flawed".
The families contest that should a cross-border inquiry into the bombing not be granted that they will challenge the decision by way of judicial review.
by Robert Pollock
BEREAVED relatives of the Omagh bomb victims will meet with Irish Justice minister, Alan Shatter, tomorrow (Thursday) to discuss the contents of their privately commissioned report on the atrocity.
Mr Shatter's department contacted Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden (21) was killed in the 1998 Real IRA attack, on Monday of this week to invite representatives of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group to Dail Eireann.
Last month the group delivered their report to Northern Ireland Secretary of Sate, Owen Paterson, and owing to the fact that its contents directly concern the Irish state's police authorities this meeting was much sought.
The welcome invite comes in the wake of a "very successful" visit to Westminster last week where the families conducted three meetings with senior figures from both houses.
Mr Gallagher described the trio of talks as "extremely encouraging" and stated that all of those whom the families met were "genuinely supportive" of their cause.
"The meetings held last week gave us much to be encouraged about. We first met with the Northern Ireland Select Committee, a meeting that was attended by Lady Sylvia Hermon, Naomi Long and Dr Alasdair McDonnell, amongst others. It was a very informative meeting and Kate Hoey, a labour MP, certainly threw her weight behind our call for an inquiry.
"We then met with a number of Lords and Baronesses, including Lord Trimble and Baroness O'Loan. That meeting was chaired by Lord Eames and again it was a success. A number of the lords have asked to be briefed privately about the report and I think that is a clear indication of the interest in our fight for a inquiry.
"Our final meeting was with Shadow Secretary of State, Vernon Croaker, who did recently direct a question to Mr Paterson on the floor of the House of Commons. He too wishes for a private consultation on the report so as to allow him to better challenge the Prime Minister on the issue of a public inquiry.
"Overall the day was a great step forward and when we learnt of Mr Shatter's invite today (Monday) it provided another boost. We have wanted this for quite some time and now we finally have our date," said Mr Gallagher.
Mr Gallagher also revealed that the families may attempt to arrange a meeting with the US Embassy in London, due to the fact that the report frequently refers to an American agent who was working in Northern Ireland at the time of the bombing.
"Whilst I am limited as to what I can say on the report I can confirm that we are considering a meeting with Barbara Stephenson who served as a US Consul General in Belfast from 2001-2004. She is now based in London and we feel that it might be wise to meet with an American representative because America comes up time and time again in the report," he added.
The relatives have yet to receive a confirmed date for a joint-meeting with PSNI Chief Constable, Matt Baggott and Northern Ireland Justice Minister, David Ford.
Mr Gallagher is anxious to meet with both men as soon as possible, not least because the final decision-maker, Mr Paterson, stated in the Commons that the families should meet with them before he does.
The Tyrone Constitution contacted the Chief Constable's office to find out when a meeting with the families was likely, however, a spokesperson said that while they could confirm that a 'request had been made' the details of such a meeting would be a 'private matter'.
The Omagh families will be joined at tomorrow's meeting by the report's co-author Martin Bridger. Mr Bridger led the investigation into the Omagh bombing on behalf of the Ombudsman's
Office in Northern Ireland in 2002.
That report concluded that the judgement and leadership of the then Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, and the assistant chief constable of the crime division was "seriously flawed".
The families contest that should a cross-border inquiry into the bombing not be granted that they will challenge the decision by way of judicial review.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/2023
Published Date: 19-Jul-12
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