RUC UNDER FIRE FOR FAILING TO INVESTIGATE OMAGH TOWN MATCHES
RUC under fire for failing to investigate Omagh Town matches
THE PSNI has denied that it failed to investigate claims that �200,000 raised in a series of sell-out high-profile football matches in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing was misappropriated.
The police Ombudsman's office has savaged the former RUC for failing to investigate, but Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter said he did oversee a police investigation to the allegations.
He said that his investigation found no evidence to substantiate claims that people had misappropriated funds for personal gain.
Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea, played friendly matches against the now-defunct Omagh Town FC in 1999, in what was believed to be a series of fundraising events for the victims of the bomb;
However, shortly afterwards allegations emerged that tens of thousands of pounds may have gone missing, with the Omagh fund reported to have received just �30,000.
Michael Gallagher, the chairman of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group which represents many of the families bereaved in the blast, said he had been told that neither he nor the group were so-called 'interested parties' and were not, therefore, in a position to make a complaint.
He said, "It's highly dubious that on the day the Ombudsman criticises the RUC's treatment of the Omagh victims, the PSNI chooses to release a statement saying there was no theft.
"The allegation of missing money could have been resolved in 2001 but the RUC refused to act. Omagh families have been let down by the system."
THE PSNI has denied that it failed to investigate claims that �200,000 raised in a series of sell-out high-profile football matches in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing was misappropriated.
The police Ombudsman's office has savaged the former RUC for failing to investigate, but Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter said he did oversee a police investigation to the allegations.
He said that his investigation found no evidence to substantiate claims that people had misappropriated funds for personal gain.
Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea, played friendly matches against the now-defunct Omagh Town FC in 1999, in what was believed to be a series of fundraising events for the victims of the bomb;
However, shortly afterwards allegations emerged that tens of thousands of pounds may have gone missing, with the Omagh fund reported to have received just �30,000.
Michael Gallagher, the chairman of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group which represents many of the families bereaved in the blast, said he had been told that neither he nor the group were so-called 'interested parties' and were not, therefore, in a position to make a complaint.
He said, "It's highly dubious that on the day the Ombudsman criticises the RUC's treatment of the Omagh victims, the PSNI chooses to release a statement saying there was no theft.
"The allegation of missing money could have been resolved in 2001 but the RUC refused to act. Omagh families have been let down by the system."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH/058
Published Date: 10-Dec-07
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