REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2008
REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2008
JANUARY
- A lawyer whose 12-year-old son died in the Omagh bomb criticised Prime Minister Gordon Brown's public backing of Ronnie Flanagan, who was RUC Chief Constable at the time of the atrocity. Victor Barker, whose son James died in the blast, said he believes the PM's comments were in response to the latest condemnation of Flanagan's initial handling of the investigation (he was head of the investigation between 1998 and 2001). Four weeks prior, Mr Barker called for the resignation of the former police chief following the acquittal of Sean Hoey, who was accused of the murder of 29 people killed in the blast. (Two unborn babies also died in the explosion).
MARCH
- A war of words broke out as the independent facilitation team chaired by Dr John Dunlop prepared to unveil the wording for the new permanent Omagh bomb memorial. Spokesman for the Omagh Victims Support Group, Michael Gallagher accused the council of showing 'a lack of respect' in not informing the families of the wording before they told the media.
APRIL
- The civil case taken by relatives of some of the Omagh bomb victims against five dissident republicans they believe were responsible for the atrocity opened in Belfast. The case made legal history as the first of its kind anywhere in the world.
MAY
- The Omagh civil case made history when it moved to Dublin when, for the first time, a Northern Ireland judge sat outside the jurisdiction. The plaintiffs want gardai to give evidence on the Real IRA and its leadership to corroborate evidence given by David Rupert, the American who infiltrated the Real IRA for the FBI.
JULY
- Retired Beragh farmer Mick Grimes, who lost three generations of his family in the Omagh bomb, published a book dedicated to all those killed in the atrocity.
AUGUST
- Eleventh hour talks brought an end to the public feud between Omagh District Council and the Omagh Support and Self-Help Group that threatened to overshadow the tenth anniversary of the Omagh bomb atrocity.
- Incessant rain reflected the sombre mood of the remembrance ceremony to mark the tenth anniversary of the Omagh bombing on Friday, August 15. Terry Waite was one of the speakers and thousands of people attended the moving event. The following Sunday, families of those killed and injured gathered for a peaceful service.
- There was outrage after it emerged that food and debris were thrown on the newly-installed monument to the Omagh bomb victims in Market Street.
SEPTEMBER
- Beragh man Mick Grimes presented Irish President Mary McAleese with a copy of his book, 'Till We Meet Again, at the president's home in Dublin. The book is a collection of stories, anecdotes, poems and social observations from Mr Grimes life including a chapter entitled 'August' which tells of the day he lost his wife, daughter and two unborn grandchildren in the Omagh bombing. Mr Grimes thanked the president for taking time out to meet him and his family.
- Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he wanted a review of intelligence files regarding the Omagh bomb. His comments came after the BBC's Panorama revealed that GHCQ were monitoring calls between the bombers on the day of the attack.
JANUARY
- A lawyer whose 12-year-old son died in the Omagh bomb criticised Prime Minister Gordon Brown's public backing of Ronnie Flanagan, who was RUC Chief Constable at the time of the atrocity. Victor Barker, whose son James died in the blast, said he believes the PM's comments were in response to the latest condemnation of Flanagan's initial handling of the investigation (he was head of the investigation between 1998 and 2001). Four weeks prior, Mr Barker called for the resignation of the former police chief following the acquittal of Sean Hoey, who was accused of the murder of 29 people killed in the blast. (Two unborn babies also died in the explosion).
MARCH
- A war of words broke out as the independent facilitation team chaired by Dr John Dunlop prepared to unveil the wording for the new permanent Omagh bomb memorial. Spokesman for the Omagh Victims Support Group, Michael Gallagher accused the council of showing 'a lack of respect' in not informing the families of the wording before they told the media.
APRIL
- The civil case taken by relatives of some of the Omagh bomb victims against five dissident republicans they believe were responsible for the atrocity opened in Belfast. The case made legal history as the first of its kind anywhere in the world.
MAY
- The Omagh civil case made history when it moved to Dublin when, for the first time, a Northern Ireland judge sat outside the jurisdiction. The plaintiffs want gardai to give evidence on the Real IRA and its leadership to corroborate evidence given by David Rupert, the American who infiltrated the Real IRA for the FBI.
JULY
- Retired Beragh farmer Mick Grimes, who lost three generations of his family in the Omagh bomb, published a book dedicated to all those killed in the atrocity.
AUGUST
- Eleventh hour talks brought an end to the public feud between Omagh District Council and the Omagh Support and Self-Help Group that threatened to overshadow the tenth anniversary of the Omagh bomb atrocity.
- Incessant rain reflected the sombre mood of the remembrance ceremony to mark the tenth anniversary of the Omagh bombing on Friday, August 15. Terry Waite was one of the speakers and thousands of people attended the moving event. The following Sunday, families of those killed and injured gathered for a peaceful service.
- There was outrage after it emerged that food and debris were thrown on the newly-installed monument to the Omagh bomb victims in Market Street.
SEPTEMBER
- Beragh man Mick Grimes presented Irish President Mary McAleese with a copy of his book, 'Till We Meet Again, at the president's home in Dublin. The book is a collection of stories, anecdotes, poems and social observations from Mr Grimes life including a chapter entitled 'August' which tells of the day he lost his wife, daughter and two unborn grandchildren in the Omagh bombing. Mr Grimes thanked the president for taking time out to meet him and his family.
- Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he wanted a review of intelligence files regarding the Omagh bomb. His comments came after the BBC's Panorama revealed that GHCQ were monitoring calls between the bombers on the day of the attack.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1974
Published Date: 01-Jan-09
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