OPPORTUNITY LOST AS POLITICS SPINS AGAIN
Opportunity lost as politics spins again
Following its deliberations, the Policing Board implied that the Ombudsman was in agreement with the Chief Constable and the Board itself that the bombing of Omagh could "not have been prevented". A spokesman for the Ombudsman's office has now said that is not Nuala O'Loan's position. Rather, no one knows, whether the atrocity could have been prevented.
That this political and media "spin" should by accident or design be put on a matter of this importance is most worrying. Indeed, it is understood that many of the families of the victims are deeply upset that the most important part of the Ombudsman's report should be so lightly dismissed.
While it is essential that our politicians continue efforts to build confidence in a new beginning for policing, the outcome of the Policing Board deliberations may have only delayed that happy outcome. Far from instilling confidence, the fudged findings and the families upset may only confirm to many that nobody in power has the nerve to take decisions to implement Patten in the face of vested opposition.
Sadly, in failing to endorse the Ombudsman's report, her office has been left critically injured.
Rather than making history with an outcome that could be sold in totally different guises to the divided public, the board may have missed an historic opportunity to reform policing and thus heighten its acceptability to those who still withhold support. In the process, the families of the victims of the Omagh bomb have been disappointed yet again.
Following its deliberations, the Policing Board implied that the Ombudsman was in agreement with the Chief Constable and the Board itself that the bombing of Omagh could "not have been prevented". A spokesman for the Ombudsman's office has now said that is not Nuala O'Loan's position. Rather, no one knows, whether the atrocity could have been prevented.
That this political and media "spin" should by accident or design be put on a matter of this importance is most worrying. Indeed, it is understood that many of the families of the victims are deeply upset that the most important part of the Ombudsman's report should be so lightly dismissed.
While it is essential that our politicians continue efforts to build confidence in a new beginning for policing, the outcome of the Policing Board deliberations may have only delayed that happy outcome. Far from instilling confidence, the fudged findings and the families upset may only confirm to many that nobody in power has the nerve to take decisions to implement Patten in the face of vested opposition.
Sadly, in failing to endorse the Ombudsman's report, her office has been left critically injured.
Rather than making history with an outcome that could be sold in totally different guises to the divided public, the board may have missed an historic opportunity to reform policing and thus heighten its acceptability to those who still withhold support. In the process, the families of the victims of the Omagh bomb have been disappointed yet again.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0968
Published Date: 14-Feb-02
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