OMAGH BOMB REVIEW TEAM NOT TOLD ABOUT AGENT'S WARNING
Omagh bomb review team not told about agent's warning
THE Omagh Bomb Review Team was unaware of double agent Kevin Fulton's information and only received his intelligence details after allegations appeared in the Sunday People on July of this year, the Ombudsman's Report concluded.
The review of the bomb investigation was commissioned and commenced by the RUC's ACC Crime in March 2000. Its findings were delivered the following November.
In the words of the senior investigating officer of the Omagh Bomb Investigation Team in truth during this period of the review which occupied most of last year the investigation effectively stood still.
The Bomb Review Report identified a number of key flaws including:
� significant and fundamental errors in the investigation
� that other previous incidents at Moira, Lisburn, Belleek, Newry and Banbridge should have been linked for investigative purposes
� errors in the management of the HOLMES database
� that many important evidential opportunities were missed
� many failures in the management and leadership of the bomb investigation which were compounded by the lack of review or senior officer intervention
� that the bomb car was left in a car park with a tarpaulin over it and that it had rusted when discovered by the bomb review team
� that the senior investigating officer was refused access to Army and Special Branch videos from South Armagh which hampered lines of enquiry.
The review report contained 274 recommendations, of which 145 provided evidential opportunities.
Mrs O'Loan's report continued All the intelligence held by the RUC which may have been relevant to the investigation of the Omagh bomb was not revealed to the investigation team.
Evidential opportunities, which the intelligence and the findings of the Omagh Bomb Review Report offered, have not been exploited.
The statement made by the Chief Constable to the families that 'no stone would be left unturned,' have not been given effect by the subsequent investigation.
"The delay in implementing the Omagh Bomb Review Report is likely to have reduced the possibilities of bringing those responsible to justice," the report added.
THE Omagh Bomb Review Team was unaware of double agent Kevin Fulton's information and only received his intelligence details after allegations appeared in the Sunday People on July of this year, the Ombudsman's Report concluded.
The review of the bomb investigation was commissioned and commenced by the RUC's ACC Crime in March 2000. Its findings were delivered the following November.
In the words of the senior investigating officer of the Omagh Bomb Investigation Team in truth during this period of the review which occupied most of last year the investigation effectively stood still.
The Bomb Review Report identified a number of key flaws including:
� significant and fundamental errors in the investigation
� that other previous incidents at Moira, Lisburn, Belleek, Newry and Banbridge should have been linked for investigative purposes
� errors in the management of the HOLMES database
� that many important evidential opportunities were missed
� many failures in the management and leadership of the bomb investigation which were compounded by the lack of review or senior officer intervention
� that the bomb car was left in a car park with a tarpaulin over it and that it had rusted when discovered by the bomb review team
� that the senior investigating officer was refused access to Army and Special Branch videos from South Armagh which hampered lines of enquiry.
The review report contained 274 recommendations, of which 145 provided evidential opportunities.
Mrs O'Loan's report continued All the intelligence held by the RUC which may have been relevant to the investigation of the Omagh bomb was not revealed to the investigation team.
Evidential opportunities, which the intelligence and the findings of the Omagh Bomb Review Report offered, have not been exploited.
The statement made by the Chief Constable to the families that 'no stone would be left unturned,' have not been given effect by the subsequent investigation.
"The delay in implementing the Omagh Bomb Review Report is likely to have reduced the possibilities of bringing those responsible to justice," the report added.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0880
Published Date: 13-Dec-01
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