PRIME MINISTER CONSIDERING REQUEST FOR BOMD INQUIRY
Prime Minister considering request for bomb inquiry
BY ALAN RODGERS
PRIME Minister David Cameron is to consider a request from members of the Omagh victims group for a meeting to discuss calls for a full inquiry into the 1998 atrocity.
The campaign to hold an independent investigation into the atrocity has been gathering pace during recent months. Now the Omagh Support and Self Help Group are hoping that they may soon be travelling to Downing Street to discuss the issue.
The group's spokesperson, Michael Gallagher, told the Tyrone Herald that they had just received a reply from the Prime Minister's office on the issue.
"There is no doubt that this is a positive development for our efforts to secure a full cross-border inquiry. The letter has been received in the past few days and we will be keeping up the pressure to secure the meeting," he said.
"We have been told that they are considering our request and we are determined that our efforts in this regard will be successful.
"This is something that we have been battling for since 2002 when the Police Ombudsman reported that there were serious questions about the Omagh bomb which needed to be answered."
Earlier this month it was announced that the Omagh families would be meeting the new Secretary of State, Owen Paterson towards the end of next month.
These latest developments come as the 12th anniversary of the Omagh Bomb is being marked.
And, according to Mr Gallagher, the lessons of the Claudy bombing in 1972 must not be repeated with regard to Omagh.
"What has happened there is that the report of the Ombudsman did not provide all the answers because many of-those involved and the chief players had already died," he said.
"Many of those who hold the answers to the Omagh bomb are still very much alive and how is the time to investigate rather than losing the opportunity as occurred in Claudy.
"The Omagh victims group fully support the Claudy families call for truth and justice. We are disgusted that once again the real victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles have been wronged," he added.
BY ALAN RODGERS
PRIME Minister David Cameron is to consider a request from members of the Omagh victims group for a meeting to discuss calls for a full inquiry into the 1998 atrocity.
The campaign to hold an independent investigation into the atrocity has been gathering pace during recent months. Now the Omagh Support and Self Help Group are hoping that they may soon be travelling to Downing Street to discuss the issue.
The group's spokesperson, Michael Gallagher, told the Tyrone Herald that they had just received a reply from the Prime Minister's office on the issue.
"There is no doubt that this is a positive development for our efforts to secure a full cross-border inquiry. The letter has been received in the past few days and we will be keeping up the pressure to secure the meeting," he said.
"We have been told that they are considering our request and we are determined that our efforts in this regard will be successful.
"This is something that we have been battling for since 2002 when the Police Ombudsman reported that there were serious questions about the Omagh bomb which needed to be answered."
Earlier this month it was announced that the Omagh families would be meeting the new Secretary of State, Owen Paterson towards the end of next month.
These latest developments come as the 12th anniversary of the Omagh Bomb is being marked.
And, according to Mr Gallagher, the lessons of the Claudy bombing in 1972 must not be repeated with regard to Omagh.
"What has happened there is that the report of the Ombudsman did not provide all the answers because many of-those involved and the chief players had already died," he said.
"Many of those who hold the answers to the Omagh bomb are still very much alive and how is the time to investigate rather than losing the opportunity as occurred in Claudy.
"The Omagh victims group fully support the Claudy families call for truth and justice. We are disgusted that once again the real victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles have been wronged," he added.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH/097
Published Date: 30-Aug-10
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