BOMB PROBE OVERSEER REPORTS TODAY
Bomb probe overseer reports today
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
A SENIOR English police officer, who has spent the last ten months poring over the Omagh bomb investigation, will present his final report to the NI Policing Board today. Deputy Chief Constable Mike Tonge will also be meeting relatives of the bomb victims who want assurances that police forces on both sides of the border are co-operating in the investigation, after reports of a rift. DCC Tonge was appointed in the aftermath of the Policing Ombudsman's Report into the Omagh bomb. In the furore which followed Nuala O'Loan's highly critical report, the Policing Board decided that a senior investigative officer, independent of the PSNI and its Special Branch, would be best placed to see if the investigation was still riddled with inadequacies, as the Ombudsman had found.
The senior Merseyside officer was given the task of critically examining all aspects of the investigation "in order to maximise the opportunities for prosecutions". He will now present his full and final report at a private meeting of the Policing Board, after which he will hold a press conference. In the afternoon, he will meet members of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group.
West Tyrone MLA Joe Byrne, a member of the Policing Board, said he and his colleagues have been receiving interim reports from DCC Tonge.
"He has basically been saying that the normal procedures are being adequately followed," said Mr Byrne. "We hope to hear that the investigation will be covering all avenues, which certainly was not the case in the past."
Mr Byrne added, "I would expect him to make serious comments about how the investigation is progressing. I am also hoping that he will give an informed report on how the investigation is being managed to make sure that all resources are being deployed in the right areas".
Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, said he and other families would be meeting Mr Tonge at PSNI headquarters on Thursday afternoon.
"I am looking forward to seeing the officer and hope that he will bring a detailed report, particularly in relation to the Garda involvement," said Mr Gallagher. "We have been hearing that the PSNI and the gardai are not even speaking to one another regarding this case, which is an unacceptable situation."
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
A SENIOR English police officer, who has spent the last ten months poring over the Omagh bomb investigation, will present his final report to the NI Policing Board today. Deputy Chief Constable Mike Tonge will also be meeting relatives of the bomb victims who want assurances that police forces on both sides of the border are co-operating in the investigation, after reports of a rift. DCC Tonge was appointed in the aftermath of the Policing Ombudsman's Report into the Omagh bomb. In the furore which followed Nuala O'Loan's highly critical report, the Policing Board decided that a senior investigative officer, independent of the PSNI and its Special Branch, would be best placed to see if the investigation was still riddled with inadequacies, as the Ombudsman had found.
The senior Merseyside officer was given the task of critically examining all aspects of the investigation "in order to maximise the opportunities for prosecutions". He will now present his full and final report at a private meeting of the Policing Board, after which he will hold a press conference. In the afternoon, he will meet members of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group.
West Tyrone MLA Joe Byrne, a member of the Policing Board, said he and his colleagues have been receiving interim reports from DCC Tonge.
"He has basically been saying that the normal procedures are being adequately followed," said Mr Byrne. "We hope to hear that the investigation will be covering all avenues, which certainly was not the case in the past."
Mr Byrne added, "I would expect him to make serious comments about how the investigation is progressing. I am also hoping that he will give an informed report on how the investigation is being managed to make sure that all resources are being deployed in the right areas".
Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, said he and other families would be meeting Mr Tonge at PSNI headquarters on Thursday afternoon.
"I am looking forward to seeing the officer and hope that he will bring a detailed report, particularly in relation to the Garda involvement," said Mr Gallagher. "We have been hearing that the PSNI and the gardai are not even speaking to one another regarding this case, which is an unacceptable situation."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1544
Published Date: 03-Apr-03
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