BID TO HAVE OMBUDSMAN PROBE GARDA ON OMAGH BOMBING FAILS
Bid to have Ombudsman probe Garda on Omagh bombing fails
BY EUGENE McCUSKER
CHAIRMAN of Omagh Self Help and Support group Michael Gallagher, yesterday had his demand for a Police Ombudsman's inquiry into the Garda investigation of the Omagh bombing rejected by the Ombudsman's office.
A spokesman for Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan said: "It would be outside of our remit to look at cases outside the jurisdiction of Northern
Ireland."
Meanwhile, the results of the inquiry into the Garda investigation of the bombing will be known before the end of November.
Mr Gallagher speaking in favour of the Belfast office, said: "We felt that they were the best placed people to carry out an individual investigation. That's not to say that we question the ability of the three man team (set up by the former Republic Justice Minister John O'Donoghue), but we feel that the Ombudsman's office has investigative skills that would not be available from the three-man team."
Referring to Tuesday's meeting with the Republic's Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen, Mr Gallagher said the Minister once again denied that the Irish government had done a deal with the Real IRA in return for a ceasefire.
"He firmly said that there is absolutely no question of the government doing any deal on that."
Mr Gallagher also said the group had arranged to meet Mr Cowen again to hear his response to the questions they raised: "We raised the fact that a number of people had been charged in connection with the Omagh bomb in his jurisdiction and those charges were withdrawn. This was an area he couldn't comment on.
"We also raised the fact that intelligence wasn't shared as well as we were led to believe. Those were all questions that he couldn't answer but he assured us that he'll come back."
BY EUGENE McCUSKER
CHAIRMAN of Omagh Self Help and Support group Michael Gallagher, yesterday had his demand for a Police Ombudsman's inquiry into the Garda investigation of the Omagh bombing rejected by the Ombudsman's office.
A spokesman for Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan said: "It would be outside of our remit to look at cases outside the jurisdiction of Northern
Ireland."
Meanwhile, the results of the inquiry into the Garda investigation of the bombing will be known before the end of November.
Mr Gallagher speaking in favour of the Belfast office, said: "We felt that they were the best placed people to carry out an individual investigation. That's not to say that we question the ability of the three man team (set up by the former Republic Justice Minister John O'Donoghue), but we feel that the Ombudsman's office has investigative skills that would not be available from the three-man team."
Referring to Tuesday's meeting with the Republic's Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen, Mr Gallagher said the Minister once again denied that the Irish government had done a deal with the Real IRA in return for a ceasefire.
"He firmly said that there is absolutely no question of the government doing any deal on that."
Mr Gallagher also said the group had arranged to meet Mr Cowen again to hear his response to the questions they raised: "We raised the fact that a number of people had been charged in connection with the Omagh bomb in his jurisdiction and those charges were withdrawn. This was an area he couldn't comment on.
"We also raised the fact that intelligence wasn't shared as well as we were led to believe. Those were all questions that he couldn't answer but he assured us that he'll come back."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1120
Published Date: 14-Nov-02
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