A PUBLIC INQUIRY IS THE ONLY WAY FORWARD FOR OMAGH
A public inquiry is the only way forward for Omagh
The 12th anniversary of the Omagh bomb is on this Sunday, August 15. This was the single worst atrocity since the recent Troubles began in 1969, and it occurred only a few months after the signing of the Belfast Agreement.
Twenty-nine people and two unborn children died in the explosion. Furthermore, some 250 people were injured, some seriously. Thus more than twice as many people were murdered than those who were killed on Bloody Sunday. In the latter incident, there have been two public inquiries whereas in respect of the Omagh bomb atrocity no such public inquiry has yet been held. A public inquiry is essential because of its powers to subpoena witnesses to attend and to demand the production of relevant documents.
The recent Saville report has been criticised for having an open-ended time-wise and for having taken years to reach its conclusions. Such opinion should not detract from the injustice of the cause of the relatives of the victims of the Omagh bomb in wanting such an inquiry.
Clear distinctions can be made as follows: Firstly such an inquiry into the Omagh bomb would not have to be open ended, since the number of questions and the persons qualified to answer them are limited. Secondly, such an inquiry would not have to take months to establish how each individual was murdered as they were all murdered in the one explosion.
Terrorism is still a threat in the UK. There is also the wider public interest as to how promptly the security forces react to such incidents and as to how many atrocity could be prevented.
For example, the public have the right to know the full extent to which MI5 was monitoring telephone calls both before and after the atrocity.
In the concluding comments to her Police Ombudsman's report, Nuala O'Loan urged that a positive way will be found which will facilitate the thorough and effective investigation into the Omagh bomb.
She realised that her own report raised more questions than it answered. A full public inquiry is long overdue.
Neil C Oliver LLB
The 12th anniversary of the Omagh bomb is on this Sunday, August 15. This was the single worst atrocity since the recent Troubles began in 1969, and it occurred only a few months after the signing of the Belfast Agreement.
Twenty-nine people and two unborn children died in the explosion. Furthermore, some 250 people were injured, some seriously. Thus more than twice as many people were murdered than those who were killed on Bloody Sunday. In the latter incident, there have been two public inquiries whereas in respect of the Omagh bomb atrocity no such public inquiry has yet been held. A public inquiry is essential because of its powers to subpoena witnesses to attend and to demand the production of relevant documents.
The recent Saville report has been criticised for having an open-ended time-wise and for having taken years to reach its conclusions. Such opinion should not detract from the injustice of the cause of the relatives of the victims of the Omagh bomb in wanting such an inquiry.
Clear distinctions can be made as follows: Firstly such an inquiry into the Omagh bomb would not have to be open ended, since the number of questions and the persons qualified to answer them are limited. Secondly, such an inquiry would not have to take months to establish how each individual was murdered as they were all murdered in the one explosion.
Terrorism is still a threat in the UK. There is also the wider public interest as to how promptly the security forces react to such incidents and as to how many atrocity could be prevented.
For example, the public have the right to know the full extent to which MI5 was monitoring telephone calls both before and after the atrocity.
In the concluding comments to her Police Ombudsman's report, Nuala O'Loan urged that a positive way will be found which will facilitate the thorough and effective investigation into the Omagh bomb.
She realised that her own report raised more questions than it answered. A full public inquiry is long overdue.
Neil C Oliver LLB
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/2006
Published Date: 12-Aug-10
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