GARDA WILL NOT TESTIFY IN OMAGH BOMB CASE
Garda 'will not testify' in Omagh bomb case
BY CIARAN WOODS
A RELATIVE of one of the victims of the 1998 Omagh bombing atrocity has accused the British and Irish Governments of "not wanting the truth of Omagh" to come out following reports that Garda officers will not be allowed to testify in any upcoming civil proceedings taken by relatives.
Weekend reports stated that Noel Conroy, the garda commissioner, will not allow those garda members who investigated the blast to testify at any civil hearing.
The garda commissioner is said to have been advised by lawyers that evidence given in a civil action may jeopardise continuing garda investigations into the attack of August 15, 1998 in which more than 200 people were injured and 29 people and two unborn children lost their lives.
The difficulty faced by security forces is that potential witnesses may be forced to reveal information on sensitive security issues while under cross-examination. A senior garda source said that the force wanted to help the Omagh families in every way possible but the decision had been taken on legal advice. It is understood that British security service MI5 has adopted a similar stance to that of the garda.
Stanley McCombe, who lost his wife Ann in the explosion, said he is "not surprised" at the garda move which he describes as just the latest in a line of moves by both the British and Irish governments to make sure "the truth about Omagh is not found out."
He said, "It's all coming from the governments. The Irish government is now in co-operation with the British government, and it's the two governments who are putting pressure on the police departments, I've no doubt about that.
"We saw the balls-up that was made of the first criminal case against Hoey, and nothing that either the British or Irish governments does surprises me anymore. Omagh is a bad thing in their eyes, and they do not want the truth of Omagh to come out.
Mr McCombe added, "It's nearly nine years since it happened, and we've not heard one word of truth from anyone other than the relatives of those who were lost. We're going to go as far as we can possibly go. Things like this are frustrating, they anger you and there's blocks put on you at every turn, but we won't give up and that's why it's so important that we get a public inquiry, not 20 years down the line but now."
The civil action was due to begin in April, but has been "put on hold" pending a decision on Sean Hoey, the south Armagh electrician who stood trial for the attack last year and which concluded in January. As the ninth anniversary of the atrocity approaches, investigations into the attack are still ongoing by both the police and garda.
Those being sued in the Omagh action include Michael McKevitt, founder of the Real IRA, who has been denied legal aid to defend himself. McKevitt is serving 20 years in Portlaoise prison imposed in 2003 by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on a charge of directing terrorism.
The other suspects named in the action are Colm Murphy, Seamus McKenna and Liam Campbell, all from Co. Louth, and Seamus Daly of Cullaville in Co. Monaghan. Murphy, who ran his own building company and a pub in Dundalk, was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment in January 2002 for plotting the attack but his conviction was overturned. He is awaiting a decision on his retrial. Daly was jailed for three years for membership of the Real IRA in 2004, while McKenna is also serving a 10-year sentence for terrorist offences.
The garda decision, if taken, will seriously hinder the relatives' chances of success in what some regard as a test case for victims of terrorism world-wide. The case is unprecedented because the claimants are seeking damages through the courts from a terrorist organisation.
BY CIARAN WOODS
A RELATIVE of one of the victims of the 1998 Omagh bombing atrocity has accused the British and Irish Governments of "not wanting the truth of Omagh" to come out following reports that Garda officers will not be allowed to testify in any upcoming civil proceedings taken by relatives.
Weekend reports stated that Noel Conroy, the garda commissioner, will not allow those garda members who investigated the blast to testify at any civil hearing.
The garda commissioner is said to have been advised by lawyers that evidence given in a civil action may jeopardise continuing garda investigations into the attack of August 15, 1998 in which more than 200 people were injured and 29 people and two unborn children lost their lives.
The difficulty faced by security forces is that potential witnesses may be forced to reveal information on sensitive security issues while under cross-examination. A senior garda source said that the force wanted to help the Omagh families in every way possible but the decision had been taken on legal advice. It is understood that British security service MI5 has adopted a similar stance to that of the garda.
Stanley McCombe, who lost his wife Ann in the explosion, said he is "not surprised" at the garda move which he describes as just the latest in a line of moves by both the British and Irish governments to make sure "the truth about Omagh is not found out."
He said, "It's all coming from the governments. The Irish government is now in co-operation with the British government, and it's the two governments who are putting pressure on the police departments, I've no doubt about that.
"We saw the balls-up that was made of the first criminal case against Hoey, and nothing that either the British or Irish governments does surprises me anymore. Omagh is a bad thing in their eyes, and they do not want the truth of Omagh to come out.
Mr McCombe added, "It's nearly nine years since it happened, and we've not heard one word of truth from anyone other than the relatives of those who were lost. We're going to go as far as we can possibly go. Things like this are frustrating, they anger you and there's blocks put on you at every turn, but we won't give up and that's why it's so important that we get a public inquiry, not 20 years down the line but now."
The civil action was due to begin in April, but has been "put on hold" pending a decision on Sean Hoey, the south Armagh electrician who stood trial for the attack last year and which concluded in January. As the ninth anniversary of the atrocity approaches, investigations into the attack are still ongoing by both the police and garda.
Those being sued in the Omagh action include Michael McKevitt, founder of the Real IRA, who has been denied legal aid to defend himself. McKevitt is serving 20 years in Portlaoise prison imposed in 2003 by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on a charge of directing terrorism.
The other suspects named in the action are Colm Murphy, Seamus McKenna and Liam Campbell, all from Co. Louth, and Seamus Daly of Cullaville in Co. Monaghan. Murphy, who ran his own building company and a pub in Dundalk, was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment in January 2002 for plotting the attack but his conviction was overturned. He is awaiting a decision on his retrial. Daly was jailed for three years for membership of the Real IRA in 2004, while McKenna is also serving a 10-year sentence for terrorist offences.
The garda decision, if taken, will seriously hinder the relatives' chances of success in what some regard as a test case for victims of terrorism world-wide. The case is unprecedented because the claimants are seeking damages through the courts from a terrorist organisation.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH/055
Published Date: 30-Jul-07
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