CHIEF IS CONFIDENT OF CATCHING BOMBER
Despite high standard of proof required Chief is confident of catching bombers
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
THE failure of the criminal justice system to bring the Omagh bombers to court rests heavily on the shoulders of Chief Inspector, Norman Baxter the man who recently took over the investigation.
And today, the fourth anniversary, the burden is particularly onerous. He knows that with each passing year, as detectives fail to bring the bombers to justice, they are failing the Omagh victims again.
Despite the fact that the criminal justice framework demands a high standard of proof, the Chief Inspector is very confident that the investigating team will find the bombers. "The team and myself are driven by the fact that so many people in Omagh are putting their faith in us. I am conscious that failing to find a solution is failing the victims of Omagh again".
"Whilst a court case will never bring back their relatives or missing limbs, it will be like a form of closure for them," said Mr Baxter.
Speaking to the UlsterHerald this week, the Chief said he intends to do everything in his power to bring the bombers before the courts or at least be in a position to assure the relatives that a complete and thorough investigation has been carried out within the current criminal justice framework.
There are 24 detectives working all of the time on the bomb investigation and to date they have interviewed 10,239 people and recorded 4,946 statements.
Chief Inspector Baxter said he is working closely with the Merseyside officer drafted in to quality assure the investigation and they are following a number of lines of enquiry that are confidential at present. "The key to solving this crime is information; the Omagh bombers would have relied on a network of supporters to provide transport, acquire equipment, provide safe houses and wash clothes to destroy evidence. These people should examine their conscience," he said.
"From a personal point of view, I would like to ask those who planted the bomb to examine their consciences. I wonder how they can live
with themselves knowing that they have murdered children, the elderly and ordinary people going about their daily lives. I wonder how they can look at themselves in a mirror and what do they see in the reflection. They do not see the reflection of humanity, they see the reflection of a calculated killer."
"While these men carry on their normal lives, there are many victims in Omagh for whom normality is history. Normality ended on the 15th August, 1998."
Mr Baxter appealed to anyone with information to help the police and he called on community representatives to 'demonstrate public and moral responsibility' and support the investigation by calling on anyone who has information to come forward either to the PSNI or the Garda Siochana. "The police cannot resolve this enquiry without the full support of the entire community," he added.
Anyone with information about the Omagh bomb should contact police at Omagh on 82246177 or 0800 555 111.
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
THE failure of the criminal justice system to bring the Omagh bombers to court rests heavily on the shoulders of Chief Inspector, Norman Baxter the man who recently took over the investigation.
And today, the fourth anniversary, the burden is particularly onerous. He knows that with each passing year, as detectives fail to bring the bombers to justice, they are failing the Omagh victims again.
Despite the fact that the criminal justice framework demands a high standard of proof, the Chief Inspector is very confident that the investigating team will find the bombers. "The team and myself are driven by the fact that so many people in Omagh are putting their faith in us. I am conscious that failing to find a solution is failing the victims of Omagh again".
"Whilst a court case will never bring back their relatives or missing limbs, it will be like a form of closure for them," said Mr Baxter.
Speaking to the UlsterHerald this week, the Chief said he intends to do everything in his power to bring the bombers before the courts or at least be in a position to assure the relatives that a complete and thorough investigation has been carried out within the current criminal justice framework.
There are 24 detectives working all of the time on the bomb investigation and to date they have interviewed 10,239 people and recorded 4,946 statements.
Chief Inspector Baxter said he is working closely with the Merseyside officer drafted in to quality assure the investigation and they are following a number of lines of enquiry that are confidential at present. "The key to solving this crime is information; the Omagh bombers would have relied on a network of supporters to provide transport, acquire equipment, provide safe houses and wash clothes to destroy evidence. These people should examine their conscience," he said.
"From a personal point of view, I would like to ask those who planted the bomb to examine their consciences. I wonder how they can live
with themselves knowing that they have murdered children, the elderly and ordinary people going about their daily lives. I wonder how they can look at themselves in a mirror and what do they see in the reflection. They do not see the reflection of humanity, they see the reflection of a calculated killer."
"While these men carry on their normal lives, there are many victims in Omagh for whom normality is history. Normality ended on the 15th August, 1998."
Mr Baxter appealed to anyone with information to help the police and he called on community representatives to 'demonstrate public and moral responsibility' and support the investigation by calling on anyone who has information to come forward either to the PSNI or the Garda Siochana. "The police cannot resolve this enquiry without the full support of the entire community," he added.
Anyone with information about the Omagh bomb should contact police at Omagh on 82246177 or 0800 555 111.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1051
Published Date: 15-Aug-02
Related Images
