OMAGH FAMILIES DEALT FURTHER BLOW ON PHONE EVIDENCE
Omagh families dealt further blow on phone evidence
BY RONAN McSHERRY
THE relatives of Omagh bomb victims, who are taking a civil action against five dissident Republicans, have failed to force the disclosure of mobile phone conversations covertly recorded on the day of the Real IRA atrocity.
Six families of those killed in the bombing in the town on August 15, 1998 have taken the multi-million pound case against Michael McKevitt, Colm Murphy, Liam Campbell, Seamus Daly and Seamus McKenna.
The families have sought recourse to a civil action as they believe no-one will ever be convicted in a criminal court of law of killing the 31 people, including unborn twin girls.
The Omagh families are seeking punitive and exemplary damages in this court action.
They want a court order for the production of tapes, transcripts or notes held by intelligence services. However, the judge rejected claims that access to the recordings could help identify those involved in the telephone calls.
He said he took the decision because voice identification had been found to be imprecise.
Last year intelligence gathered before the Omagh bombing was reviewed after a BBC television documentary claimed that the perpetrators of the attack were being monitored. Panorama contended that GCHQ, the Government listening post, was recording the Real IRA bombers' mobile telephone calls as they made their way to Omagh.
However, a subsequent official report rejected claims that vital intelligence about the bombing was deliberately held back.
Intelligence Services Commissioner, Sir Peter Gibson said information on the bombers was shared with police, but could not have stopped the 1998 attack.
In his report, Sir Peter said details from telephone intercepts were passed on 'promptly and fully' and in accordance with proper procedures.
He also said there was no evidence before him that Gardai in the Republic had warned the RUC of a likely attack.
He also dismissed the programme's claims that intelligence officers had tracked the movements of the bombers' car, saying technology was not advanced enough in 1998 to do that.
BY RONAN McSHERRY
THE relatives of Omagh bomb victims, who are taking a civil action against five dissident Republicans, have failed to force the disclosure of mobile phone conversations covertly recorded on the day of the Real IRA atrocity.
Six families of those killed in the bombing in the town on August 15, 1998 have taken the multi-million pound case against Michael McKevitt, Colm Murphy, Liam Campbell, Seamus Daly and Seamus McKenna.
The families have sought recourse to a civil action as they believe no-one will ever be convicted in a criminal court of law of killing the 31 people, including unborn twin girls.
The Omagh families are seeking punitive and exemplary damages in this court action.
They want a court order for the production of tapes, transcripts or notes held by intelligence services. However, the judge rejected claims that access to the recordings could help identify those involved in the telephone calls.
He said he took the decision because voice identification had been found to be imprecise.
Last year intelligence gathered before the Omagh bombing was reviewed after a BBC television documentary claimed that the perpetrators of the attack were being monitored. Panorama contended that GCHQ, the Government listening post, was recording the Real IRA bombers' mobile telephone calls as they made their way to Omagh.
However, a subsequent official report rejected claims that vital intelligence about the bombing was deliberately held back.
Intelligence Services Commissioner, Sir Peter Gibson said information on the bombers was shared with police, but could not have stopped the 1998 attack.
In his report, Sir Peter said details from telephone intercepts were passed on 'promptly and fully' and in accordance with proper procedures.
He also said there was no evidence before him that Gardai in the Republic had warned the RUC of a likely attack.
He also dismissed the programme's claims that intelligence officers had tracked the movements of the bombers' car, saying technology was not advanced enough in 1998 to do that.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH/084
Published Date: 02-Mar-09
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