SPECIAL BRANCH BLAMED
Special ranch blamed
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
THE publication of the Ombudsman's Report in its raw form has sent shock waves through the community of Omagh.
Yesterday Nuala O'Loan spent hours with the families of those killed in the 1998 bomb, while the world's media waited outside to get a glimpse of the contents.
The Ombudsman and her team explained in heartbreaking detail how they believed that a major cover-up on behalf of the police in particular Special Branch had resulted in the atrocity not being properly investigated.
She was particularly damning of the top chiefs in the Police Service for Northern Ireland saying their judgment was flawed. She went on to call for an investigation to be headed by a a police chief who has no connection with RUC.
Mrs O'Loan said that the police mishandling of the Omagh bombing may prevent those directly responsible from the Real IRA ever being arrested for their part in the atrocity.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Adrian was killed in the bomb voiced the fear of all the relatives and surviving victims when he lamented 'that the 32nd victim of the bomb would now be justice'.
The Ombudsman's report, compiled after thorough investigation led by former Scotland Yard senior police officer Commander David Young and made up of experienced detectives from right across the globe, presents a catalogue of errors, deliberate suppression of evidence and repeated attempts to subvert the inquiry.
Possibly the most damning finding of the inquiry, which was prompted by the public disclosures of a paid agent, is that two categoric warnings of a terrorist attack on Omagh on August 15,1998, were not acted upon.
Another shock disclosure is that the police 'lost' crucial evidence including the car that carried the bomb into the crowded Market Street.
Despite some of the contents of the report being leaked almost a week earlier, the families suffered a wide range of emotions from anger to grief. Such was the extent of the sadness that many of the families slipped through a back exit of the Silverbirch Hotel, rather speak to the media outside.
Those who did speak demanded a public inquiry into the incidents prior and after the bomb.
There were calls for resignations from Tony Blair down and for prosecutions for those who colluded in hiding crucial information.
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
THE publication of the Ombudsman's Report in its raw form has sent shock waves through the community of Omagh.
Yesterday Nuala O'Loan spent hours with the families of those killed in the 1998 bomb, while the world's media waited outside to get a glimpse of the contents.
The Ombudsman and her team explained in heartbreaking detail how they believed that a major cover-up on behalf of the police in particular Special Branch had resulted in the atrocity not being properly investigated.
She was particularly damning of the top chiefs in the Police Service for Northern Ireland saying their judgment was flawed. She went on to call for an investigation to be headed by a a police chief who has no connection with RUC.
Mrs O'Loan said that the police mishandling of the Omagh bombing may prevent those directly responsible from the Real IRA ever being arrested for their part in the atrocity.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Adrian was killed in the bomb voiced the fear of all the relatives and surviving victims when he lamented 'that the 32nd victim of the bomb would now be justice'.
The Ombudsman's report, compiled after thorough investigation led by former Scotland Yard senior police officer Commander David Young and made up of experienced detectives from right across the globe, presents a catalogue of errors, deliberate suppression of evidence and repeated attempts to subvert the inquiry.
Possibly the most damning finding of the inquiry, which was prompted by the public disclosures of a paid agent, is that two categoric warnings of a terrorist attack on Omagh on August 15,1998, were not acted upon.
Another shock disclosure is that the police 'lost' crucial evidence including the car that carried the bomb into the crowded Market Street.
Despite some of the contents of the report being leaked almost a week earlier, the families suffered a wide range of emotions from anger to grief. Such was the extent of the sadness that many of the families slipped through a back exit of the Silverbirch Hotel, rather speak to the media outside.
Those who did speak demanded a public inquiry into the incidents prior and after the bomb.
There were calls for resignations from Tony Blair down and for prosecutions for those who colluded in hiding crucial information.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0868
Published Date: 13-Dec-01
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