FLANAGAN ADMITS LIABILITY FOR CALAMITOUS INVESTIGATION
Flanagan admits liability for calamitous investigation but refuses to stand down
BY ADRIAN MULLAN
THE former Chief Constable of the RUC, Ronnie Flanagan, has admitted responsibility for the calamitous investigation into the bombing of Omagh, and apologised for his failings but has refused to resign from his lucrative post with the Inspectorate of Constabulary in Britain.
Prior to Christmas, Sean Hoey was acquitted of charges relating to the Omagh bombing and a host of other charges in a case which is now best known for the judge describing the evidence of two of the investigating officers as 'deliberately deceitful.'
Flanagan had been in charge of policing here at the time of the bombing. However, he was promoted to the post of Inspector of Her Majesty's Constabulary in England, after the police Ombudsman reported that his officers and Special Branch had failed to act on warnings that Omagh would be bombed.
It is the first time Mr Flanagan has publicly said sorry for the botched investigation into the atrocity that claimed 29 lives. However, whilst Michael Gallagher welcomed the apology he also insisted on the need for a cross-border inquiry. Victor Barker, whose son James was killed in the blast, said it was not enough and called on Mr Flanagan to step down from the Inspectorate of Constabulary.
Ronnie Flanagan said he would not resign from his post which places him as top Home Office advisor on policing.
Releasing 39-year-old Sean Hoey, trial judge Justice Weir delivered a damning comment on the police investigation. He highlighted malpractice at every stage of the evidence gathering procedures during the case.
Mr Flanagan said in a television interview shortly after a meeting with Mr Barker, "I absolutely publicly apologise to the families in Omagh. I am desperately sorry that we have not, at this point, brought people to justice for that dreadful attack. I publicly apologise to all those families and all those victims; to all those who were injured, without reservation."
He continued, "Of course as Chief Constable, I have to take responsibility for the shortcomings that the judge highlighted and I take responsibility for those shortcomings."
Victor Barker said, "He apologised that no-one's been brought to justice, that's very different from apologising for his own involvement in the case."
BY ADRIAN MULLAN
THE former Chief Constable of the RUC, Ronnie Flanagan, has admitted responsibility for the calamitous investigation into the bombing of Omagh, and apologised for his failings but has refused to resign from his lucrative post with the Inspectorate of Constabulary in Britain.
Prior to Christmas, Sean Hoey was acquitted of charges relating to the Omagh bombing and a host of other charges in a case which is now best known for the judge describing the evidence of two of the investigating officers as 'deliberately deceitful.'
Flanagan had been in charge of policing here at the time of the bombing. However, he was promoted to the post of Inspector of Her Majesty's Constabulary in England, after the police Ombudsman reported that his officers and Special Branch had failed to act on warnings that Omagh would be bombed.
It is the first time Mr Flanagan has publicly said sorry for the botched investigation into the atrocity that claimed 29 lives. However, whilst Michael Gallagher welcomed the apology he also insisted on the need for a cross-border inquiry. Victor Barker, whose son James was killed in the blast, said it was not enough and called on Mr Flanagan to step down from the Inspectorate of Constabulary.
Ronnie Flanagan said he would not resign from his post which places him as top Home Office advisor on policing.
Releasing 39-year-old Sean Hoey, trial judge Justice Weir delivered a damning comment on the police investigation. He highlighted malpractice at every stage of the evidence gathering procedures during the case.
Mr Flanagan said in a television interview shortly after a meeting with Mr Barker, "I absolutely publicly apologise to the families in Omagh. I am desperately sorry that we have not, at this point, brought people to justice for that dreadful attack. I publicly apologise to all those families and all those victims; to all those who were injured, without reservation."
He continued, "Of course as Chief Constable, I have to take responsibility for the shortcomings that the judge highlighted and I take responsibility for those shortcomings."
Victor Barker said, "He apologised that no-one's been brought to justice, that's very different from apologising for his own involvement in the case."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH/064
Published Date: 28-Jan-08
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