NEW HEAD TAKES OVER OMAGH BOMB PROBE
New head takes over Omagh bomb probe
BY AUSTIN LYNCH
A NEW senior officer is to take over the probe into the Omagh bombing, it has been confirmed.
The investigation into the 1998 Real IRA atrocity will now be spearheaded by Detective Superintendent Norman Baxter, the PSNI Press Office said yesterday.
Supt Baxter, currently based at Enniskillen PSNI station, has already taken over the investigation with effect from Monday, June 10. He succeeds Brian McArthur, who had been in operational command of the investigation up until now. Supt McArthur is to retire from the police service later in the year.
The PSNI and the Policing Board have made efforts of late to restore public confidence in the investigation.
This follows the damning report by Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan on how the investigation was handled by the RUC.
The O'Loan report has been fully backed by relatives of victims in the atrocity.
Among the Ombudsman's recommendations were the appointment of a senior investigating officer, independent of the police service to head the probe.
Already, the role of Merseyside officer Chief Superintendent Philip Jones has been enhanced to give him equal status to that of the senior investigating officer.
Another officer from Merseyside, Deputy Chief Constable Mike Tonge, has been appointed by the Policing Board to "quality assure" the probe.
The appointment of Det Supt Baxter comes just weeks before civil action legal writs are to be served on those named by the media as the prime suspects in the bombing.
BY AUSTIN LYNCH
A NEW senior officer is to take over the probe into the Omagh bombing, it has been confirmed.
The investigation into the 1998 Real IRA atrocity will now be spearheaded by Detective Superintendent Norman Baxter, the PSNI Press Office said yesterday.
Supt Baxter, currently based at Enniskillen PSNI station, has already taken over the investigation with effect from Monday, June 10. He succeeds Brian McArthur, who had been in operational command of the investigation up until now. Supt McArthur is to retire from the police service later in the year.
The PSNI and the Policing Board have made efforts of late to restore public confidence in the investigation.
This follows the damning report by Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan on how the investigation was handled by the RUC.
The O'Loan report has been fully backed by relatives of victims in the atrocity.
Among the Ombudsman's recommendations were the appointment of a senior investigating officer, independent of the police service to head the probe.
Already, the role of Merseyside officer Chief Superintendent Philip Jones has been enhanced to give him equal status to that of the senior investigating officer.
Another officer from Merseyside, Deputy Chief Constable Mike Tonge, has been appointed by the Policing Board to "quality assure" the probe.
The appointment of Det Supt Baxter comes just weeks before civil action legal writs are to be served on those named by the media as the prime suspects in the bombing.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1032
Published Date: 13-Jun-02
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