HIGH RANKING POLICE OFFICER WAS ORDERED OUT OF O'LOAN MEETING
High ranking police officer was ordered out of O'Loan meeting
BY JOHN McCUSKER
A SENIOR ranking police officer was asked to leave last week's private meeting between families and Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan after those present voiced concern at his presence, the UlsterHerald has learned.
Omagh-based Inspector George Douglas was requested to vacate the room after some families questioned the nature of his presence at the restricted and highly sensitive meeting.
Lawrence Rush, who lost his wife Libby in the 1998 atrocity, later critised the officers presence and questioned the reasons behind the move.
"No-one seems to know why this officer was present during the meeting," he said. "And I don't know what the police or the Special Branch would have gained from having him there.
"When we realised what had happened, many of the relatives and families felt uncomfortable and felt we were under a certain amount of pressure.
"I would like to know why he was placed there in the first place. Was he observing those attending the meeting or monitoring what was being said?" Mr Rush asked.
A Police Service spokesman this week confirmed that Mrs O'Loan had asked the officer to leave the room during the presentation of a summary of her damning report on the bomb investigation.
The officer, who was in plain clothes, was supervising other policemen involved in security measures at the same venue.He was asked to leave the meeting and subsequently left the room," the PSNI spokesman added.
Meanwhile, Mr Rush has called for a question and answer debate between families and Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan, in light of his attack of the police ombudsman's report on the investigation.
He challenged Mr Flanagan to 'explain and expand' upon his criticism of Nuala O'Loan's inquiry into police handling of the probe.
Dismissing suggestions of a three way debate between Mr Flanagan, Nuala O'Loan and families regarding the controversy, Mr Rush said such a move at this time would be unhelpful to all concerned.
"I would not approve of such a meeting as i believe it would degenerate in to a slanging match," he said. "Ronnie Flanghan is a verbal acrobat and his continual harping since this story emerged is just unbelievable."
Mr Rush said doubts over the police handling of the Omagh case, which were expressed by his legal representative, Michael Mansfield QC during last year's inquests into the deaths, had now been consolidated. And he said more damning evidence could emerge following the Police Ombudsman's probe.
"During the inquests, Michael Mansfield cast doubt on the police and the investigation into the bomb attack. At the time these were rubbished by the authorities. But it has since transpired that there was a lot of truth in what he was saying.
"I'm now more resolved than ever to get to the bottom of this and I would reiterate calls for a public inquiry into the police handling of the matter." Mr Rush added.
BY JOHN McCUSKER
A SENIOR ranking police officer was asked to leave last week's private meeting between families and Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan after those present voiced concern at his presence, the UlsterHerald has learned.
Omagh-based Inspector George Douglas was requested to vacate the room after some families questioned the nature of his presence at the restricted and highly sensitive meeting.
Lawrence Rush, who lost his wife Libby in the 1998 atrocity, later critised the officers presence and questioned the reasons behind the move.
"No-one seems to know why this officer was present during the meeting," he said. "And I don't know what the police or the Special Branch would have gained from having him there.
"When we realised what had happened, many of the relatives and families felt uncomfortable and felt we were under a certain amount of pressure.
"I would like to know why he was placed there in the first place. Was he observing those attending the meeting or monitoring what was being said?" Mr Rush asked.
A Police Service spokesman this week confirmed that Mrs O'Loan had asked the officer to leave the room during the presentation of a summary of her damning report on the bomb investigation.
The officer, who was in plain clothes, was supervising other policemen involved in security measures at the same venue.He was asked to leave the meeting and subsequently left the room," the PSNI spokesman added.
Meanwhile, Mr Rush has called for a question and answer debate between families and Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan, in light of his attack of the police ombudsman's report on the investigation.
He challenged Mr Flanagan to 'explain and expand' upon his criticism of Nuala O'Loan's inquiry into police handling of the probe.
Dismissing suggestions of a three way debate between Mr Flanagan, Nuala O'Loan and families regarding the controversy, Mr Rush said such a move at this time would be unhelpful to all concerned.
"I would not approve of such a meeting as i believe it would degenerate in to a slanging match," he said. "Ronnie Flanghan is a verbal acrobat and his continual harping since this story emerged is just unbelievable."
Mr Rush said doubts over the police handling of the Omagh case, which were expressed by his legal representative, Michael Mansfield QC during last year's inquests into the deaths, had now been consolidated. And he said more damning evidence could emerge following the Police Ombudsman's probe.
"During the inquests, Michael Mansfield cast doubt on the police and the investigation into the bomb attack. At the time these were rubbished by the authorities. But it has since transpired that there was a lot of truth in what he was saying.
"I'm now more resolved than ever to get to the bottom of this and I would reiterate calls for a public inquiry into the police handling of the matter." Mr Rush added.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0890
Published Date: 20-Dec-01
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