POLICING BOARD TOLD OF 100% COMMITMENT TO OMAGH CASE
Policing Board told of 100% commitment to Omagh case
POLICE chief, Hugh Orde, has pledged the PSNI's 100% commitment to the investigation into the Omagh bomb, which devastated the town centre and claimed 31 lives, including unborn twins, in August 1998.
At a meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, an update on the bomb investigation, as well as the hunt for the murderer of a retired Coalisland postmaster just before Christmas, were among the items on the agenda.
Mr Orde was replying to a question from Policing Board member, Joe Byrne, who said the British Prime Minister and the Taoiseach had insisted no stone "would be left unturned" in the hunt for those responsible for the Omagh bombing.
Mr Byrne said the public were beginning to question whether there was a real commitment to apprehending those who carried out the horrific terrorist attack.
Mr Orde insisted the investigation was still one of the largest underway in Northern Ireland, and asked Detective Chief Superintendent, Norman Baxter, for an update.
Mr Baxter asked the Policing Board to bear in mind that there is "an ongoing prosecution" pending against an individual in connection with Omagh, which limited what he could say.
However, he reassured the Board that there is "the commitment and dedication of the enquiry team to progress this investigation, and that hasn't changed, and the public in Omagh should be reassured of that."
Mr Baxter said one person has been charged with 20 terrorist offences, including possession of the type of unit used to detonate the bomb in Omagh.
Papers have been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions and that remains confidential material, he continued.
"What I would say is that there are a number of proactive lines of enquiry.
"There are 500 outstanding actions which the enquiry team are following up, in conjunction with our Garda colleagues, who are looking at about a quarter of those for us", added Mr Baxter.
"The investigation will continue until all lines of enquiry are completed and all evidential opportunities are explored, so I can reassure you that it is not a matter of turning over the stones, it is a matter of looking and gathering the evidence where it is."
In relation to the murder at his home in Killen, outside Coalisland, of retired postmaster, Patrick McGrath, a Policing Board spokeswoman said police had given assurance that they were still pursuing a number of lines of enquiry and called for the continuing assistance of the local community in their investigations.
It is understood the screening of DNA samples from men and teenage boys in the surrounding area is still taking place on a reduced scale.
POLICE chief, Hugh Orde, has pledged the PSNI's 100% commitment to the investigation into the Omagh bomb, which devastated the town centre and claimed 31 lives, including unborn twins, in August 1998.
At a meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, an update on the bomb investigation, as well as the hunt for the murderer of a retired Coalisland postmaster just before Christmas, were among the items on the agenda.
Mr Orde was replying to a question from Policing Board member, Joe Byrne, who said the British Prime Minister and the Taoiseach had insisted no stone "would be left unturned" in the hunt for those responsible for the Omagh bombing.
Mr Byrne said the public were beginning to question whether there was a real commitment to apprehending those who carried out the horrific terrorist attack.
Mr Orde insisted the investigation was still one of the largest underway in Northern Ireland, and asked Detective Chief Superintendent, Norman Baxter, for an update.
Mr Baxter asked the Policing Board to bear in mind that there is "an ongoing prosecution" pending against an individual in connection with Omagh, which limited what he could say.
However, he reassured the Board that there is "the commitment and dedication of the enquiry team to progress this investigation, and that hasn't changed, and the public in Omagh should be reassured of that."
Mr Baxter said one person has been charged with 20 terrorist offences, including possession of the type of unit used to detonate the bomb in Omagh.
Papers have been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions and that remains confidential material, he continued.
"What I would say is that there are a number of proactive lines of enquiry.
"There are 500 outstanding actions which the enquiry team are following up, in conjunction with our Garda colleagues, who are looking at about a quarter of those for us", added Mr Baxter.
"The investigation will continue until all lines of enquiry are completed and all evidential opportunities are explored, so I can reassure you that it is not a matter of turning over the stones, it is a matter of looking and gathering the evidence where it is."
In relation to the murder at his home in Killen, outside Coalisland, of retired postmaster, Patrick McGrath, a Policing Board spokeswoman said police had given assurance that they were still pursuing a number of lines of enquiry and called for the continuing assistance of the local community in their investigations.
It is understood the screening of DNA samples from men and teenage boys in the surrounding area is still taking place on a reduced scale.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH/011
Published Date: 07-Feb-05
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