POLICING BOARD HELD PRIVATE MEETING WITH BOMB FAMILIES
Policing Board held private meeting with bomb families
FOLLOWING a private meeting between the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the families of victims, a Board spokesman said that the representatives who attend were there to listen.
Chairman of the Board Desmond Rea added, "These are the people whose feelings have been most deeply touched by the publication of the Ombudsman's report and last week's response by the Chief Constable.
"From the outset, the Policing Board has given a definitive undertaking to grasp the issues arising out of the Omagh report. We are committed to our responsibility to ensure that policing is effective, efficient, transparent, and accountable.
"Mindful of the sensitivities of all parties, we will give full and proper consideration to all the relevant information."
Professor Rea continued, "I thank those with whom we met for their openness and honesty. We listened intently to the heartfelt views expressed and will in turn, be reflecting these views back to the Board when it meets to consider the matter in full."
Board member Joe Byrne said that the Omagh bomb investigation must be 'reinvigorated' with the sole purpose of bringing the Omagh bombers to justice.
Speaking after the meeting on Monday at the Silver Birch Hotel he said, "Overall, we had a constructive meeting on the serious issues arising from the Ombudsman's report and the Chief Constable's response."
"On February 5, the Policing Board will be hearing formally from the Ombudsman and the Chief Constable and subject to that meeting the Board will be in a position to make decisions as to what recommendations the Board would seek to implement as a basis for moving forward", he said.
He concluded, "Taking into consideration the fact the Omagh atrocity was planned and executed by terrorists on a cross-border basis, there must now be maximum co-operation on the Omagh bomb investigation between the PSNI and the Garda."
FOLLOWING a private meeting between the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the families of victims, a Board spokesman said that the representatives who attend were there to listen.
Chairman of the Board Desmond Rea added, "These are the people whose feelings have been most deeply touched by the publication of the Ombudsman's report and last week's response by the Chief Constable.
"From the outset, the Policing Board has given a definitive undertaking to grasp the issues arising out of the Omagh report. We are committed to our responsibility to ensure that policing is effective, efficient, transparent, and accountable.
"Mindful of the sensitivities of all parties, we will give full and proper consideration to all the relevant information."
Professor Rea continued, "I thank those with whom we met for their openness and honesty. We listened intently to the heartfelt views expressed and will in turn, be reflecting these views back to the Board when it meets to consider the matter in full."
Board member Joe Byrne said that the Omagh bomb investigation must be 'reinvigorated' with the sole purpose of bringing the Omagh bombers to justice.
Speaking after the meeting on Monday at the Silver Birch Hotel he said, "Overall, we had a constructive meeting on the serious issues arising from the Ombudsman's report and the Chief Constable's response."
"On February 5, the Policing Board will be hearing formally from the Ombudsman and the Chief Constable and subject to that meeting the Board will be in a position to make decisions as to what recommendations the Board would seek to implement as a basis for moving forward", he said.
He concluded, "Taking into consideration the fact the Omagh atrocity was planned and executed by terrorists on a cross-border basis, there must now be maximum co-operation on the Omagh bomb investigation between the PSNI and the Garda."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0946
Published Date: 31-Jan-02
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