Latest news with #BombingInquiry
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Government 'very committed' to cooperating on Omagh inquiry
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he rejects comments that the Irish government co-operation with the Omagh Bombing Inquiry has been "wholly unsatisfactory". It comes as a barrister representing families of the dead and some of the injured said they remained "greatly disappointed" at the lack of commitment on the part of the Irish authorities to "meaningfully assist" the inquiry. Mr Martin said that the government is "very committed" to cooperating fully and making material available to the inquiry. "I don't think it's fair to make that comment," he said in response to the barrister's comments. Irish Government cooperation with the Omagh Bombing Inquiry has been criticised as "wholly unsatisfactory" by a barrister representing families of the dead and some of the injured today. Alan Kane KC was making an opening statement on behalf of the families of eight of those killed in the 1998 bombing and eight of the injured. He said they remained "greatly disappointed" at the lack of commitment on the part of the Irish authorities to "meaningfully assist" the inquiry. Later, counsel for another 14 of the families said the credibility of the inquiry rested, at least in part, on the effectiveness of the agreement with the Irish Government through the memorandum of understanding. Hugh Southey KC said the families he represented continued to press for a parallel public inquiry in the Republic of Ireland. "It's not yet known if the memorandum of understanding will result in full disclosure of all documentation and the attendance of all relevant witnesses, but this will become clear within a relatively short period of time. "The victims and survivors that I represent urge the inquiry to keep the effectiveness of the memorandum under review. "The credibility of the inquiry's work does, at least to some extent, depend on the memorandum of understanding." Department of Justice In a statement the Department of Justice said it was committed to helping in any way it could. "The Government has made it clear it intention to do everything possible to assist the inquiry. "The cross border nature of the assistance means this is a complex area, however, the signing of the memorandum of understanding proves that it is possible." The spokesperson said the department was already dealing with requests from the inquiry and the government remained committed to enacting new legislation if required to facilitate support to the inquiry. The Government has agreed a memorandum of understanding with the Omagh Inquiry which will see it provide documents from Irish State archives. But Mr Kane said the families he represented regarded it as "wholly unsatisfactory" "Our clients wish to use this inquiry to heap shame on the Government of the Republic of Ireland for their failures. "They consider there is a moral, human and legal imperative on the Government of the Republic of Ireland to establish a parallel inquiry into the deaths of people who were their own citizens, visitors to their country and those who would have been entitled to Irish citizenship under their laws." Yesterday lawyers for the PSNI, the Northern Secretary, and the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland all made opening statements to the inquiry. It was made clear that the pace of discovery of documents was slow due to the fact that any digital files available were held on antiquated computer systems and in many cases searches had to be conducted by hand in physical archives. Mr Southey later said effective disruption of the Omagh bombing potentially require the assistance of the Irish authorities. He said his clients wanted the Irish Government to establish a procedure that would enable findings to be reached regarding any failings that may have occurred within the jurisdiction of the Republic of Ireland. He said it appeared that information had been available to the gardai that had not been passed to the RUC. The Omagh Bomb Investigation Team briefed families in 2008 during which they told them intelligence material showed that dissident republicans had discussed police and army bases in Omagh in November 1997. That briefing document had stated: "The information was not passed onto the RUC, and therefore the sub-divisional commander in Omagh was not made aware of this information regarding the military bases or his own station. "The Investigation Team assessed that this information should have been passed onto the RUC at that time bearing in mind the number of terrorist bombs and attempted bombs in 1997. The same briefing document said that, in addition, after an operation by the Garda in April 1998 to disrupt a dissident operation, a generalised document was provided to the RUC that lacked sufficient detail. Twenty-nine people were killed, including a woman pregnant with twins, when the Real IRA detonated a car bomb in Omagh's main street on August 1998. Mr Kane said there were a host of issues arising in the Republic which needed to be fully addressed at the inquiry, including the actions of agents there, information provided by a garda whistleblower and the adequacy of various investigations that had been carried out. And he questioned the ability of the memorandum to deliver the candour his clients wanted. He said the mechanism whereby the Irish authorities would supply documents which it considered relevant and which related purely to any failures by the UK authorities was a "significant escape clause" for the Republic. He said that was compounded by the retained right to redact Irish documents before sending them to the inquiry. None of this instilled confidence, he said. "I have the authority of those I represent to say that they are sick and tired of platitudes, false assurances, broken promises and the grand but empty words from the State authorities of the Republic of Ireland. "Their resolute refusal to institute a parallel inquiry and their ongoing failure to provide real and meaningful co-operation with this inquiry speaks far louder than their words."
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Omagh bombing victims to ‘heap shame' on Irish Govt during public inquiry amid ‘broken promises' and ‘false assurances'
VICTIMS of the Omagh bombing intend to use a public inquiry to 'heap shame' on the Irish Government for its failings over the atrocity, a barrister has said. The inquiry also heard that victims are 'sick and tired of platitudes, false assurances and broken promises' from Advertisement 5 The injury is investigating whether the explosion could have been prevented by authorities Credit: pACEMAKER pRESS 5 The hearing room at the Silverbirch Hotel in Omagh where the inquest gathered today Credit: Liam McBurney/PA Wire 5 Alan Kane delivered a statement on behalf of bereaved families Credit: Liam McBurney/PA Wire The Omagh Bombing Inquiry, chaired by Lord Turnbull, is hearing opening statements from core participants. On Tuesday the focus moved to statements from the legal representatives of bereaved families. The Real The public inquiry was set up by the previous government to examine whether Advertisement READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS Barrister Alan Kane KC delivered a statement on behalf of the families of These include the families of Debra-Anne Cartwright, Olive Hawkes, Julia Hughes, Philomena Skelton, Samantha McFarland, Alan Radford, Lorraine Wilson, who were all killed in the massacre, as well as several other people who were injured. He told the inquiry: 'It is important that we always keep in focus that it was republican terrorists under the name Real IRA who planned and planted the Omagh bomb. "They alone are responsible for the loss and hurt caused by it. Advertisement Most read in Irish News Latest 'On hearing the accounts of so many at the commemorative hearings, it beggars all belief as to what else was intended other than murderous carnage by leaving a bomb in a peaceful town's main street on a busy sunny Saturday afternoon where so many 'The preventability of the murders and injuries was at all times within the absolute control of the Real IRA.' Omagh service held to remember victims 20 years after bombing He added: 'Our clients are of the clear belief that whatever aspects of preventability may lie at the door of the 'Our clients again renew their call for a parallel inquiry to be immediately established by the Government of the Republic of Ireland, a call that they should not be required to repeat. Advertisement 'Our clients remain greatly disappointed at the lack of any commitment of the authorities in the Republic of Ireland to meaningfully assist this inquiry. 'They regard the memorandum of understanding, agreed with the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Ireland as wholly unsatisfactory. 'Our clients wish to use this inquiry to heap shame on the Government of the Republic of Ireland for their failures.' 5 Caroline Martin, sister of Esther Gibson attened the Silverbirch Hotel in Omagh today Credit: Liam McBurney/PA Wire Advertisement 5 Michael Gallagher, father victim Aiden Gallagher, was also in attendance Credit: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
North Wales Chronicle
6 days ago
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Former RUC chief sorry for impact of ombudsman spat on Omagh bomb victims
Counsel for Sir Ronnie Flanagan also said it remains of personal and professional regret to him that no-one was ever brought to justice for the dissident republican blast in 1998 that killed 29 people. During an opening statement to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry on Monday on behalf of Sir Ronnie, Ian Skelt KC detailed some of the lengths he had gone to, including contacting Nasa to ask if they had any footage of the area. Sir Ronnie was chief constable of Northern Ireland's then police force the Royal Ulster Constabulary at the time of the bomb and had weekly meetings with then secretary of state Mo Mowlam to discuss security. Mr Skelt said Sir Ronnie has 'consistently pledged his commitment to engaging positively with this inquiry to ensure it provides answers to those most affected, namely the survivors and the next of kin of those who lost their lives'. He said he followed the commemorative statements around those killed and impacted by the bomb in the last phase of the inquiry earlier this year. 'He welcomes the inquiry and recognises that some nearly 27 years from the bomb attack this may represent the last opportunity to identify the truth in respect to the preventability of the bombing,' he said. 'He pledges to engage fully and transparently.' He went on to describe how Sir Ronnie is sorry for the impact of his row with then Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan in 2001 after she produced a critical report around the police investigation into the Omagh bomb. At the time, Sir Ronnie responded by saying he would resign and 'commit suicide in public' if the multiple failures highlighted in the ombudsman's report were true. Mr Skelt told the Omagh Bombing Inquiry that Sir Ronnie regrets his 'ill-judged emotive statement'. 'Sir Ronnie has heard the evidence during the personal statement hearings that the public dispute between him and the then Police Ombudsman was unwelcome and distracted from the focus being on the victims and their loss, this was not his intention. He is sorry for causing upset,' he said. 'All he can say now is back then when the ombudsman's report was released, he felt very strongly about its content and considered it important to ensure the public had accurate information about the police investigation of the Omagh bombing. 'Following the release of what he considered to be an inaccurate Police Ombudsman report, Sir Ronnie acknowledges the making of an ill-judged emotive statement in response to a journalist's question asking him if he would resign if the report was accurate. Having very quickly recognised that it was a crass response, Sir Ronnie immediately issued an apology.' Mr Skelt added: 'At the relevant time, Sir Ronnie considered he took the appropriate position in light of the information and advice available to him, but as outlined above and previously, he is sorry for causing upset to those impacted by the bombing, he will continue to reflect upon this and other decisions through this inquiry. 'It is submitted that Sir Ronnie acted in good faith and at all times motivated by an intention to bring all of those responsible for this crime to justice, that this has not been possible is a matter of great personal and professional regret.' Mr Skelt also outlined some of the measures taken in the police investigation into the bomb which included contacting the then director of the FBI to ask whether there was any possibility of library footage from Nasa, the FBI, CIA or any other US agency of the Omagh area at the time of the bombing. 'This is an example of the lengths he went to to ensure even the most remote avenues of investigation were explored,' he said. 'That said, Sir Ronnie is not in any way closed to the suggestion that other avenues could have been explored, indeed this inquiry may identify possibilities as the work on documentation and evidence progresses.' Sir Ronnie, a core participant in the inquiry, is expected to give a full statement of evidence at a later stage.
Rhyl Journal
6 days ago
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Former RUC chief sorry for impact of ombudsman spat on Omagh bomb victims
Counsel for Sir Ronnie Flanagan also said it remains of personal and professional regret to him that no-one was ever brought to justice for the dissident republican blast in 1998 that killed 29 people. During an opening statement to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry on Monday on behalf of Sir Ronnie, Ian Skelt KC detailed some of the lengths he had gone to, including contacting Nasa to ask if they had any footage of the area. Sir Ronnie was chief constable of Northern Ireland's then police force the Royal Ulster Constabulary at the time of the bomb and had weekly meetings with then secretary of state Mo Mowlam to discuss security. Mr Skelt said Sir Ronnie has 'consistently pledged his commitment to engaging positively with this inquiry to ensure it provides answers to those most affected, namely the survivors and the next of kin of those who lost their lives'. He said he followed the commemorative statements around those killed and impacted by the bomb in the last phase of the inquiry earlier this year. 'He welcomes the inquiry and recognises that some nearly 27 years from the bomb attack this may represent the last opportunity to identify the truth in respect to the preventability of the bombing,' he said. 'He pledges to engage fully and transparently.' He went on to describe how Sir Ronnie is sorry for the impact of his row with then Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan in 2001 after she produced a critical report around the police investigation into the Omagh bomb. At the time, Sir Ronnie responded by saying he would resign and 'commit suicide in public' if the multiple failures highlighted in the ombudsman's report were true. Mr Skelt told the Omagh Bombing Inquiry that Sir Ronnie regrets his 'ill-judged emotive statement'. 'Sir Ronnie has heard the evidence during the personal statement hearings that the public dispute between him and the then Police Ombudsman was unwelcome and distracted from the focus being on the victims and their loss, this was not his intention. He is sorry for causing upset,' he said. 'All he can say now is back then when the ombudsman's report was released, he felt very strongly about its content and considered it important to ensure the public had accurate information about the police investigation of the Omagh bombing. 'Following the release of what he considered to be an inaccurate Police Ombudsman report, Sir Ronnie acknowledges the making of an ill-judged emotive statement in response to a journalist's question asking him if he would resign if the report was accurate. Having very quickly recognised that it was a crass response, Sir Ronnie immediately issued an apology.' Mr Skelt added: 'At the relevant time, Sir Ronnie considered he took the appropriate position in light of the information and advice available to him, but as outlined above and previously, he is sorry for causing upset to those impacted by the bombing, he will continue to reflect upon this and other decisions through this inquiry. 'It is submitted that Sir Ronnie acted in good faith and at all times motivated by an intention to bring all of those responsible for this crime to justice, that this has not been possible is a matter of great personal and professional regret.' Mr Skelt also outlined some of the measures taken in the police investigation into the bomb which included contacting the then director of the FBI to ask whether there was any possibility of library footage from Nasa, the FBI, CIA or any other US agency of the Omagh area at the time of the bombing. 'This is an example of the lengths he went to to ensure even the most remote avenues of investigation were explored,' he said. 'That said, Sir Ronnie is not in any way closed to the suggestion that other avenues could have been explored, indeed this inquiry may identify possibilities as the work on documentation and evidence progresses.' Sir Ronnie, a core participant in the inquiry, is expected to give a full statement of evidence at a later stage.
The Independent
19-02-2025
- The Independent
Real IRA terrorists bombed Omagh with ‘impunity', witness tells inquiry
The Real IRA terrorists who bombed Omagh in 1998 seem to have been allowed to act with 'impunity', a witness has told a public inquiry. Simon McLarnon described how he attempted to help victims of the explosion, but was left with a lifelong sense of guilt that he was unable to do more. Mr McLarnon, who works as a general dental surgeon in Co Donegal, was at his girlfriend's house in the Co Tyrone town on the day of the blast. He told the Omagh Bombing Inquiry: 'I had first aid training because I was a recent graduate, but I wasn't able to use it on the day. 'I felt fairly useless. I did very little with the casualties and those that were injured. 'It left me with an immense sense of guilt which I carry to this day.' He told the inquiry that the explosion was the 'loudest noise I had ever heard'. He went to the town centre where he said he was met with a a 'sea of glass'. There were two ladies….the older of the two ladies, one of her legs was virtually amputated, it was held on by skin only. Simon McClarnon Mr McLarnon said he saw a man with a serious head injury being tended to by a teenager. He said he showed the youth how to try to stop the bleeding before moving on to help others. He told the inquiry he heard a woman sobbing and crying out 'my leg, my leg'. He said: 'There were two ladies….the older of the two ladies, one of her legs was virtually amputated, it was held on by skin only. 'There was a younger girl say beside her who had two limbs virtually amputated and very serious injuries. 'I spent some time with her. I had no idea what to do with her. 'I had limited first aid experience. I had actually been shown how to deal with an amputated limb but not two.' He added: 'She was awake, she was conscious, she wanted me to help her and I told her that ambulances were on the way.' Mr McLarnon said he suffered from depression and trauma due to his experiences on the day of the bombing. He said: 'I could not walk up Market Street, even after it re-opened and I avoided the town centre. 'I would have nightmares about what I had seen and I felt useless, guilt, anger and depressed about my inability to help anyone on the day of the bomb. 'I was angry with the bombers and that they have evaded justice. 'I was angry with the way victims were treated by politicians, the government and the police. 'The large number of children injured in the bomb made me feel guilty for managing to walk away from it uninjured. 'I wished it had been me instead of one of the children who were only beginning to live their lives.' Who would support the slaughter of children, babies and innocent people? The maiming and blinding of children, the murder of pregnant women? He also said he had a sense of injustice about what had happened in Omagh. He said: 'They (the terrorists) seem to have done it with impunity. 'We know several of them have lived out their lives now and never have to face justice. 'That, I find very difficult to accept.' He added: 'Who would support the slaughter of children, babies and innocent people? The maiming and blinding of children, the murder of pregnant women? 'No-one has come forward. They are protected in the communities they live in, I can't understand that. 'I can't understand that if you knew your neighbour, brother, husband was involved in this, that you wouldn't go to police or An Garda Siochana or anyone to say you had concerns about them. 'That hasn't happened and I find that difficult to understand and accept.'
