UH/2029

BOMB FAMILIES TO MEET OMBUDSMAN

Verdict on civil case appeal due to be delivered today
BY ALAN ROOGERS

THE Omagh bomb families have secured a meeting with the Police Ombudman the outcome of which they hope could add further weight to calls for a Public Inquiry into the atrocity
The revelation comes as the long-awaited verdict on the appeal by four men held liable for the Omagh bombing is due to be delivered this morning (Thursday)
The Ulster Herald has learned that Ombudsman Al Hutchinson. has been asked key questions by the families in relation to officers not wearing full protective clothing at the scene of an unexploded mortar bomb at Altmore Forest 10 years ago which is believed to have been linked to the explosion in Omagh 13 years ago.
A possible link between the two was brought to light by prosecutors in the trial of Sean Hoey. the only man charged in connection with the Omagh bomb, who was cleared in 2007.
Speaking this week as they prepared for the verdict in the civil Michael Gallagher of the Omagh Support and Sell Help Group confirmed that a number of meetings had already taken place on the issue.
"We have spoken with the chief executive of the Ombudsman's office and are anxious that the meeting with Al Hutchinson takes place within the next few weeks." he said
"A number of questions have been posed which they did not have the answers to at that time and now this meeting is aimed at addressing those.
"The questions are in relation to why officers were not properly suited-up at the incident in Altmore Forest. These are extremely important and remain unresolved matters following the verdict delivered in the trial of Sean Hoey.
"During that trial photographs were presented showing officers not wearing the full protective clothing. But police said at that time that this was taken after the cordon had been lifted.
"It is vital that these points are raised and sorted because the trial cost £16million. Yet we are being told that a Public Inquiry into the Omagh Bomb would be too expensive."
Mr Gallagher said that this forensic doubt and the qualifications of a DNA expert called by the Sean Hoey defence team impacted on the outcome of the trial four years ago.
In February 2009 the Police Ombudsman reported that the photograph apparently showing the officers without protective clothing was taken after the cordon was removed.
The group has also revealed that efforts to pursue a Public Inquiry into the bomb, which killed 31 people, including unborn twins, are continuing.
Following a meeting with the Secretary of State Owen Paterson, they were told that no final decision would be taken until similar Inquiries into the murders of Rosemary Nelson and Robert Hamill were completed.
Mr Gallagher said the range of issues which remain outstanding following the Sean Hoey trial and also the civil trial for those held liable for the Omagh Bombing highlighted the ongoing requirement for an Inquiry.
The verdict in the landmark civil case brought by the Omagh families against five individuals whom they believed to be involved in the bombing was the first of its kind anywhcre in the world
A verdict in the appeal by the four men - Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Colin Murphy and Seamus Daly will be delivered at the High Court.