DUP MAN SLAMS GOVERNMENT FOR WITHHOLDING EVIDENCE
DUP man slams government for withholding evidence
BY ADRIAN MULLAN
ONE of the staunchest supporters of the Northern Ireland security forces, West Tyrone MLA Tom Buchanan has condemned the government for withholding information which might have prevented the Omagh atrocity. He was speaking following the revelations that GCHQ had, on the day of the bomb, monitored the mobile phones of those thought to be responsible for the slaughter.
The DUP MLA called the government's actions in withholding information from intelligence services '"a travesty of justice".
Speaking to the Ulster Herald, Mr Buchanan said, "There can be no doubt in anyone's mind, that the Omagh bomb was the worst atrocity in all the years of the troubles in Northern Ireland, which saw 29 people and unborn twins lose their lives with hundreds more maimed, injured, and scarred for life.
"Over the past ten years, as the families have striven for justice, intelligence gathering and investigations have been clouded with controversy with the security forces, especially the RUC, coming under fierce criticism and accusations of mishandling the case and failing the victims of the atrocity.
"Now, recent revelations that the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) withheld vital information which may have prevented this atrocity from ever happening, had it been passed onto the RUC, is astounding and raises serious questions about their actions.
"I have no doubt, this new information will again open wounds in the hearts of grieving families as they contemplate the fact that had the RUC been privy to this information then one road block could have prevented the past ten years of grieving and search for justice. No doubt there will be countless other victims of terrorism, within West Tyrone, and across Northern Ireland who will have similar questions about the actions of the security services and whether information was also withheld which could have prevented their loss also."
The DUP MLA concluded, "It is clear there are people and organisations who are still withholding vital information, which, if handed over to the relevant authorities, would bring justice for the Omagh people and closure to the grieving families. I therefore reiterate my call for anyone with information, no matter how small to pass it onto the PSNI."
BY ADRIAN MULLAN
ONE of the staunchest supporters of the Northern Ireland security forces, West Tyrone MLA Tom Buchanan has condemned the government for withholding information which might have prevented the Omagh atrocity. He was speaking following the revelations that GCHQ had, on the day of the bomb, monitored the mobile phones of those thought to be responsible for the slaughter.
The DUP MLA called the government's actions in withholding information from intelligence services '"a travesty of justice".
Speaking to the Ulster Herald, Mr Buchanan said, "There can be no doubt in anyone's mind, that the Omagh bomb was the worst atrocity in all the years of the troubles in Northern Ireland, which saw 29 people and unborn twins lose their lives with hundreds more maimed, injured, and scarred for life.
"Over the past ten years, as the families have striven for justice, intelligence gathering and investigations have been clouded with controversy with the security forces, especially the RUC, coming under fierce criticism and accusations of mishandling the case and failing the victims of the atrocity.
"Now, recent revelations that the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) withheld vital information which may have prevented this atrocity from ever happening, had it been passed onto the RUC, is astounding and raises serious questions about their actions.
"I have no doubt, this new information will again open wounds in the hearts of grieving families as they contemplate the fact that had the RUC been privy to this information then one road block could have prevented the past ten years of grieving and search for justice. No doubt there will be countless other victims of terrorism, within West Tyrone, and across Northern Ireland who will have similar questions about the actions of the security services and whether information was also withheld which could have prevented their loss also."
The DUP MLA concluded, "It is clear there are people and organisations who are still withholding vital information, which, if handed over to the relevant authorities, would bring justice for the Omagh people and closure to the grieving families. I therefore reiterate my call for anyone with information, no matter how small to pass it onto the PSNI."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1962
Published Date: 18-Sep-08
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