POLICING BOARD TO REVIES OMAGH BOMB INVESTIGATION
Policing Board to review Omagh bomb investigation
BY ADRIAN MULLAN
THE Policing Board has promised an independent review of all investigations in relation to the Omagh bombing following a meeting with Chief Constable, Hugh Orde on Thursday.
The meeting followed the pre-Christmas trial of Sean Hoey who was acquitted of 51 charges, when the judge in the case, Mr Justice Weir; accused two officers of 'deliberate and calculated deception'. The folly of the case was further highlighted when the practice of using low copy DNA evidence was called into question to the degree that all such cases in the UK in which the prosecution was depending on such evidence have been urgently reviewed.
Justice Weir personally passed his comments to the Police Ombudsman following Hoey's acquittal.
Following Thursday's meeting with Hugh Orde, the Policing-Board issued a statement which took some two hours for members to agree.
The statement read;" The most important issue for members today was whether the investigation can be progressed with any prospect of a successful conviction. The Board noted the Chief Constable's view that the potential for future prosecution was limited unless further witnesses step forward. There are people in the community who have information and as a Board we would also join with the Chief Constable in urging anyone with any information or fresh evidence to bring this to police.
"Nevertheless the Board believe that an independent external overview of the investigation would be of value at this stage. The detail of the terms of reference for such a review will require careful consideration by the Board."
The Board's response to the Hoey 'trial failures enraged Omagh victims campaigner Michael Gallagher, who said that there were already two solid investigations of the investigation in the McVicker Review and the Police Ombudsman's inquiry in 2001.
He said talk about a further inquiry into the police investigation was total nonsense. "There never was and never will be the political will to bring those responsible to 'trial," said Mr Gallagher, who added that the only way forward "was for a full cross-border public inquiry".
"The message that is going out to the world is that you can murder 31 people in Ireland and get away with it. This is turning into a scandal of international proportions,"
He said that no member of the Policing Board had consulted with the families as to the way ahead. "There can be no sticking plaster solution to this, there must be a full inquiry, I think the governments are hoping that if enough time passes we'll just die off, we are a thorn in their side." Mr Gallagher said that ten Mr Beans could not have made a bigger mess.
He added that from a standing start the Spanish police had secured 22 convictions for the Madrid bombing, and that London police had secured convictions of the would-be transport bombers, but that in Ireland North and South no-one was or would ever be convicted for the mass murder of people in Omagh.
BY ADRIAN MULLAN
THE Policing Board has promised an independent review of all investigations in relation to the Omagh bombing following a meeting with Chief Constable, Hugh Orde on Thursday.
The meeting followed the pre-Christmas trial of Sean Hoey who was acquitted of 51 charges, when the judge in the case, Mr Justice Weir; accused two officers of 'deliberate and calculated deception'. The folly of the case was further highlighted when the practice of using low copy DNA evidence was called into question to the degree that all such cases in the UK in which the prosecution was depending on such evidence have been urgently reviewed.
Justice Weir personally passed his comments to the Police Ombudsman following Hoey's acquittal.
Following Thursday's meeting with Hugh Orde, the Policing-Board issued a statement which took some two hours for members to agree.
The statement read;" The most important issue for members today was whether the investigation can be progressed with any prospect of a successful conviction. The Board noted the Chief Constable's view that the potential for future prosecution was limited unless further witnesses step forward. There are people in the community who have information and as a Board we would also join with the Chief Constable in urging anyone with any information or fresh evidence to bring this to police.
"Nevertheless the Board believe that an independent external overview of the investigation would be of value at this stage. The detail of the terms of reference for such a review will require careful consideration by the Board."
The Board's response to the Hoey 'trial failures enraged Omagh victims campaigner Michael Gallagher, who said that there were already two solid investigations of the investigation in the McVicker Review and the Police Ombudsman's inquiry in 2001.
He said talk about a further inquiry into the police investigation was total nonsense. "There never was and never will be the political will to bring those responsible to 'trial," said Mr Gallagher, who added that the only way forward "was for a full cross-border public inquiry".
"The message that is going out to the world is that you can murder 31 people in Ireland and get away with it. This is turning into a scandal of international proportions,"
He said that no member of the Policing Board had consulted with the families as to the way ahead. "There can be no sticking plaster solution to this, there must be a full inquiry, I think the governments are hoping that if enough time passes we'll just die off, we are a thorn in their side." Mr Gallagher said that ten Mr Beans could not have made a bigger mess.
He added that from a standing start the Spanish police had secured 22 convictions for the Madrid bombing, and that London police had secured convictions of the would-be transport bombers, but that in Ireland North and South no-one was or would ever be convicted for the mass murder of people in Omagh.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH/056
Published Date: 07-Jan-08
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