REID AND FLANAGAN CLOSE RANKS TO PROTECT THE SPECIAL BRANCH, MP CHARGES
Reid and Flanagan close ranks to protect the Special Branch, MP charges
THE Secretary of State, John Reid, and Police Chief, Ronnie Flanagan, have closed ranks to protect the interests of RUC Special Branch and those who directly control it in the Intelligence Services, according to West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty.
Speaking this week after he demanded an urgent meeting with Secretary of State to demand full disclosure of all information relating to Special Branches' prior knowledge of the bomb, the MP said Omagh people are in a state of shock.
"These latest revelations have compounded the hurt and suffering that has been caused to the relatives and survivors of the Omagh bomb. The first priority must be to ensure that they are not left in the dark about the extent of prior knowledge withheld by the RUC Special Branch. The community is in the process of rebuilding, what it does not need is uncertainty and untruths to complicate the healing process."
Mr Doherty said that though he would be demanding full disclosure from the Secretary of State it is unlikely that that information will be forthcoming.
"It is now abundantly clear that only a fully independent inquiry in to the activities of the Special Branch and their masters in the British Intelligence Services will get at the truth."
In the light of recent revelations, the public and the people of Omagh will accept nothing less than complete disclosure into the murky world of RUC Special Branch.
"Until this happens people will have no confidence in the claims that we already have a new beginning to policing."
Echoing the MP's calls for disclosure Barry McElduff MLA said, "My ongoing sympathies are with the families who lost loved ones and those who were injured on that tragic day. I would, however, call for full disclosure of all information that was in possession of the RUC and British Military Intelligence in the weeks preceding the 15th August 1998 Mr McElduff intimated that he wanted to study the Ombudsman's document before making a more detailed and considered comment.
THE Secretary of State, John Reid, and Police Chief, Ronnie Flanagan, have closed ranks to protect the interests of RUC Special Branch and those who directly control it in the Intelligence Services, according to West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty.
Speaking this week after he demanded an urgent meeting with Secretary of State to demand full disclosure of all information relating to Special Branches' prior knowledge of the bomb, the MP said Omagh people are in a state of shock.
"These latest revelations have compounded the hurt and suffering that has been caused to the relatives and survivors of the Omagh bomb. The first priority must be to ensure that they are not left in the dark about the extent of prior knowledge withheld by the RUC Special Branch. The community is in the process of rebuilding, what it does not need is uncertainty and untruths to complicate the healing process."
Mr Doherty said that though he would be demanding full disclosure from the Secretary of State it is unlikely that that information will be forthcoming.
"It is now abundantly clear that only a fully independent inquiry in to the activities of the Special Branch and their masters in the British Intelligence Services will get at the truth."
In the light of recent revelations, the public and the people of Omagh will accept nothing less than complete disclosure into the murky world of RUC Special Branch.
"Until this happens people will have no confidence in the claims that we already have a new beginning to policing."
Echoing the MP's calls for disclosure Barry McElduff MLA said, "My ongoing sympathies are with the families who lost loved ones and those who were injured on that tragic day. I would, however, call for full disclosure of all information that was in possession of the RUC and British Military Intelligence in the weeks preceding the 15th August 1998 Mr McElduff intimated that he wanted to study the Ombudsman's document before making a more detailed and considered comment.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0876
Published Date: 13-Dec-01
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