REAL IRA SAYS IT HAD MINIMAL INVOLVEMENT IN OMAGH BOMB
Real IRA says it has minimal involvement in Omagh bomb
Group accepted responsibility out of a 'moral obligation
THE Real IRA has said it had 'minimal involvement' in the Omagh bomb and that the government and security agencies have known this.
The group which has been vilified for carrying out the worst atrocity of the Troubles, said it carried out an internal investigation into what happened following the bomb and published its findings in a statement last week.
INVESTIGATION
It said "As a result of recent events surrounding the ombudsman's report into the Omagh bombing, the leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann, following one of the longest investigations in its history, would like to clarify certain aspects of this terrible tragedy.
"We can confirm that MI5 handled two agent provocateurs, whose identities are known to us.
"One operated in the north/west area and the other in the north/east region. These agents were instrumental in the planning and implementation of the bombing that occurred that day.
"At the time, given their background, we believed them to be genuine republicans, even though they belonged to a different organisation.
They were not out members but had dealings with certain individuals within our ranks.
"Because of this co-operation and their use of our code word for three warnings, we felt a moral obligation to accept responsibility for the bomb.
"As a result of their actions our members over the put three years, have been subjected to a campaign of vilification, despite the fact that people at government level and in the security agencies had knowledge of the true facts.
"In the immediate aftermath we had contact with a senior government representative, as well as a cleric, acting as a mediator, and both confirmed to us on separate occasions that they were in possession of information that established our minimal involvement in this terrible tragedy.
"We can confirm also that minutes of these meetings exist.
"Therefore, we call on these people to come forward now and confirm the truth of the matter.
"Failing this, we reserve the right to release into the public domain the information available to us at a time of our choosing" concluded the group's statement.
Group accepted responsibility out of a 'moral obligation
THE Real IRA has said it had 'minimal involvement' in the Omagh bomb and that the government and security agencies have known this.
The group which has been vilified for carrying out the worst atrocity of the Troubles, said it carried out an internal investigation into what happened following the bomb and published its findings in a statement last week.
INVESTIGATION
It said "As a result of recent events surrounding the ombudsman's report into the Omagh bombing, the leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann, following one of the longest investigations in its history, would like to clarify certain aspects of this terrible tragedy.
"We can confirm that MI5 handled two agent provocateurs, whose identities are known to us.
"One operated in the north/west area and the other in the north/east region. These agents were instrumental in the planning and implementation of the bombing that occurred that day.
"At the time, given their background, we believed them to be genuine republicans, even though they belonged to a different organisation.
They were not out members but had dealings with certain individuals within our ranks.
"Because of this co-operation and their use of our code word for three warnings, we felt a moral obligation to accept responsibility for the bomb.
"As a result of their actions our members over the put three years, have been subjected to a campaign of vilification, despite the fact that people at government level and in the security agencies had knowledge of the true facts.
"In the immediate aftermath we had contact with a senior government representative, as well as a cleric, acting as a mediator, and both confirmed to us on separate occasions that they were in possession of information that established our minimal involvement in this terrible tragedy.
"We can confirm also that minutes of these meetings exist.
"Therefore, we call on these people to come forward now and confirm the truth of the matter.
"Failing this, we reserve the right to release into the public domain the information available to us at a time of our choosing" concluded the group's statement.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0895
Published Date: 20-Dec-01
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