NALLY IS A WHITEWASH THAT COULD NOT DELIVER JUSTICE FOR FAMILIES
Nally is a whitewash that could not deliver justice for bomb families' - claim
THE Nally Report did not and could not properly investigate claims that the Republic's government did a secret ceasefire deal with the Real IRA after the 1998 bombing, Omagh Self Help and Support Group chairman Michael Gallagher has claimed.
Mr Gallagher, speaking after returning from a weekend in the Czech Republic, said that the Nally investigation was set up for one reason and one reason only and that was to give the Gardai a clean bill of health. He said it was of limited usefulness and that nothing short of a cross-border public inquiry would suffice in terms of getting justice for the victims of the atrocity.
The 'independent' report concluded that there was no basis for persistent allegations that charges were dropped against seven suspects in return for a ceasefire in September 1998, one month after the Omagh atrocity which claimed 31 lives.
The Nally Inquiry was set up four years ago after allegations by John White, a garda, were given credence by Nuala O'Loan, the Police Ombudsman in Northern Ireland. White claimed that charges of handling stolen vehicles, first laid against seven men at Carrickmacross District Court in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing, were withdrawn as part of a deal to secure a Real IRA ceasefire.
He said Martin Manseragh, who acted as an intermediary in the lead-up to the IRA's ceasefire in 1994, had met with representatives of the RIRA after Omagh. "I believe that all these charges were dropped as a result of the meetings," he said.
The Nally Inquiry questioned senior Gardai, RUC officers, officials in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and White himself about the claims.
Kevin Carty, an assistant garda commissioner, said there was never "any attempt to interfere or influence any aspect" of the garda's Omagh investigation "by anybody, including politicians or any government minister. To suggest otherwise is totally false".
Mr White said a Real IRA member told him he had been guaranteed immunity as a result of the "deal". But Carty and another garda told the Nally inquiry that they had searched the terrorist suspect's home, yard and sheds in late August 1998 and found no trace of explosives, and no other evidence on which to base a prosecution.
Several hundred cars were examined, and none was found to be stolen.
The suspect was himself arrested in September 1998 and held for 72 hours, but as he made no admission and there was no evidence, he "had to be released without charge". His tax affairs were also found to be in order by the Criminal Assets Bureau.
Gardai say the Real IRA's announcement of a ceasefire one month after Omagh was an effort "to buy time and reorganise following arrests and searches".
After constant speculation, Mr Ahern denied in 2002 that any deal was done between his officials and the Real IRA.
THE Nally Report did not and could not properly investigate claims that the Republic's government did a secret ceasefire deal with the Real IRA after the 1998 bombing, Omagh Self Help and Support Group chairman Michael Gallagher has claimed.
Mr Gallagher, speaking after returning from a weekend in the Czech Republic, said that the Nally investigation was set up for one reason and one reason only and that was to give the Gardai a clean bill of health. He said it was of limited usefulness and that nothing short of a cross-border public inquiry would suffice in terms of getting justice for the victims of the atrocity.
The 'independent' report concluded that there was no basis for persistent allegations that charges were dropped against seven suspects in return for a ceasefire in September 1998, one month after the Omagh atrocity which claimed 31 lives.
The Nally Inquiry was set up four years ago after allegations by John White, a garda, were given credence by Nuala O'Loan, the Police Ombudsman in Northern Ireland. White claimed that charges of handling stolen vehicles, first laid against seven men at Carrickmacross District Court in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing, were withdrawn as part of a deal to secure a Real IRA ceasefire.
He said Martin Manseragh, who acted as an intermediary in the lead-up to the IRA's ceasefire in 1994, had met with representatives of the RIRA after Omagh. "I believe that all these charges were dropped as a result of the meetings," he said.
The Nally Inquiry questioned senior Gardai, RUC officers, officials in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and White himself about the claims.
Kevin Carty, an assistant garda commissioner, said there was never "any attempt to interfere or influence any aspect" of the garda's Omagh investigation "by anybody, including politicians or any government minister. To suggest otherwise is totally false".
Mr White said a Real IRA member told him he had been guaranteed immunity as a result of the "deal". But Carty and another garda told the Nally inquiry that they had searched the terrorist suspect's home, yard and sheds in late August 1998 and found no trace of explosives, and no other evidence on which to base a prosecution.
Several hundred cars were examined, and none was found to be stolen.
The suspect was himself arrested in September 1998 and held for 72 hours, but as he made no admission and there was no evidence, he "had to be released without charge". His tax affairs were also found to be in order by the Criminal Assets Bureau.
Gardai say the Real IRA's announcement of a ceasefire one month after Omagh was an effort "to buy time and reorganise following arrests and searches".
After constant speculation, Mr Ahern denied in 2002 that any deal was done between his officials and the Real IRA.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1881
Published Date: 07-Dec-06
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