VITAL INFORMATION ON OMAGH BOMBING NOT PASSED ON, POLICE OMBUDSMAN HEARS
Vital information on Omagh bombing not passed on, Police Ombudsman hears
Families to meet British Home Secretary today
POLICE Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan has met with the Republic's Foreign Minister Brian Cowen over claims that vital information which could have helped catch the Omagh bombers was withheld, it has been revealed.
During talks in Dublin, which also involved her executive director Dave Wood, Mrs O'Loan alerted Mr Cowen of the allegations.
It has been claimed that information supplied by an informant to the Irish Special Branch and which if acted up-on, might have thwarted the
terrorists, was never passed to the RUC at the time.
Representatives of some of the Omagh families are to meet British Home Secretary David Blunkett in London today alleging there was little north south police cooperation in the hunt for the Real IRA terrorists.
MYTH
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was among those killed, said "The British and Irish governments lead us to believe there was unprecedented cooperation. But it was only a myth.
"It didn't exist, and we have the evidence to prove it."
It has been alleged that a number of days before the Omagh bombing, an informant told his handler, an officer based in Dublin, that republican, dissidents who had asked him to steal a car, told him they no longer wanted a vehicle because they had already obtained one.
The information was passed on to the Irish Special Branch but, it is claimed, never reached the RUC even though the informant had stolen cars previously which were used in terrorist operations by republicans opposed to the peace process.
Ms O'Loan's office confirmed the matter was raised when she met with Mr Cowen after a permanent secretary at the Northern Ireland Office was informed in advance of her departure to Dublin last week.
Mr Wood, who was with her, is a commander with the London Metropolitan Police and headed an inquiry which produced a highly critical report of the Omagh investigation
A statement issued said: "The office of the Police Ombudsman was introduced by some of those bereaved by the Omagh bomb, to a Garda officer who claimed to have new information about events leading up to, and after the atrocity.
"We examined the information made available to us and satisfied ourselves that it did not contain matters to suggest alleged misconduct by the PSNI/RUC officers. We will not, therefore, be launching any investigation as a result of the information.
"As the material related to matters in the Republic of Ireland, the police Ombudsman's office has now passed the information to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin.
"It has also provided a copy of the material to the Police Service of Northern Ireland."
Families to meet British Home Secretary today
POLICE Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan has met with the Republic's Foreign Minister Brian Cowen over claims that vital information which could have helped catch the Omagh bombers was withheld, it has been revealed.
During talks in Dublin, which also involved her executive director Dave Wood, Mrs O'Loan alerted Mr Cowen of the allegations.
It has been claimed that information supplied by an informant to the Irish Special Branch and which if acted up-on, might have thwarted the
terrorists, was never passed to the RUC at the time.
Representatives of some of the Omagh families are to meet British Home Secretary David Blunkett in London today alleging there was little north south police cooperation in the hunt for the Real IRA terrorists.
MYTH
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was among those killed, said "The British and Irish governments lead us to believe there was unprecedented cooperation. But it was only a myth.
"It didn't exist, and we have the evidence to prove it."
It has been alleged that a number of days before the Omagh bombing, an informant told his handler, an officer based in Dublin, that republican, dissidents who had asked him to steal a car, told him they no longer wanted a vehicle because they had already obtained one.
The information was passed on to the Irish Special Branch but, it is claimed, never reached the RUC even though the informant had stolen cars previously which were used in terrorist operations by republicans opposed to the peace process.
Ms O'Loan's office confirmed the matter was raised when she met with Mr Cowen after a permanent secretary at the Northern Ireland Office was informed in advance of her departure to Dublin last week.
Mr Wood, who was with her, is a commander with the London Metropolitan Police and headed an inquiry which produced a highly critical report of the Omagh investigation
A statement issued said: "The office of the Police Ombudsman was introduced by some of those bereaved by the Omagh bomb, to a Garda officer who claimed to have new information about events leading up to, and after the atrocity.
"We examined the information made available to us and satisfied ourselves that it did not contain matters to suggest alleged misconduct by the PSNI/RUC officers. We will not, therefore, be launching any investigation as a result of the information.
"As the material related to matters in the Republic of Ireland, the police Ombudsman's office has now passed the information to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin.
"It has also provided a copy of the material to the Police Service of Northern Ireland."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1013
Published Date: 09-May-02
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