Latest news with #Turnbull
Irish Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Post
Omagh bombing victims demand full accountability
NEARLY 27 years after the deadliest attack of the Troubles, victims and survivors of the Omagh bombing are demanding more than condolences and symbolic gestures. They want the full truth - and they believe that can only be achieved through meaningful cooperation from both the British and Irish governments. The Omagh bombing on August 15, 1998, carried out by the Real IRA, killed 29 people, including a pregnant woman expecting twins. It happened shortly after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, shocking both sides of the Irish border. Despite civil actions in 2009 that found four men liable, no one has ever been criminally convicted for the attack. Today, an ongoing public inquiry that began in january, chaired by Lord Turnbull is investigating whether the bombing could have been prevented. While the inquiry primarily focuses on the actions of British authorities, victims' families have expressed deep frustration with the perceived lack of genuine cooperation from the Irish government. Barrister Alan Kane KC, representing several families, did not mince words. Speaking during the inquiry's recent hearings, Kane said the victims are 'sick and tired of platitudes, false assurances and broken promises' from Dublin. The Republic of Ireland's failure to establish a parallel inquiry or to engage in what the families consider meaningful cooperation is a central point of contention. 'There is a moral, human and legal imperative for the Republic of Ireland to establish its own inquiry,' Kane said. 'The perpetrators of the bombing found cowardly refuge in the Republic, and there are serious concerns about intelligence failures on that side of the border.' A memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed earlier this year was supposed to allow the inquiry access to relevant materials held by Irish authorities. However, Kane described the MOU as 'wholly unsatisfactory' and 'redundant', criticising its clauses that allow the Irish government to unilaterally decide what is deemed relevant. The inquiry also heard troubling revelations about missing documents and alleged intelligence gaps. Counsel Hugh Southey KC highlighted concerns that intelligence-sharing between British and Irish security services was ineffective, noting that the Garda Síochána rarely provided actionable intelligence to preempt threats. He also raised the disturbing possibility that state informants were allowed to operate without oversight, possibly endangering public safety. Families have likened the current inquiry to inspecting only the engine of a vehicle when the whole car - including where the bomb was planted - is what's truly relevant. As one victim's representative put it: 'This inquiry can only examine the parts of the car made in the UK. It cannot examine the rest of the car where the terrorists sat or the boot area where the deadly bomb was hidden.' For many, this limitation underscores the need for a full, transparent parallel inquiry in the Republic of Ireland. Without it, they argue, the truth will remain incomplete and justice unfulfilled. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has defended his government's position, insisting that cooperation has been full and transparent. Speaking to RTÉ, he called accusations of bad faith 'not fair comment' and pointed to the MOU as proof of their willingness to collaborate. However, the families remain unconvinced. They see years of inaction and redacted documents as evidence of evasion, not engagement. 'There is reason to believe that intelligence was known by the Garda but not the RUC,' said Southey. 'Effective protection would have required cooperation across the border, and that simply didn't happen.' As the Omagh Bombing Inquiry continues, the families hope their long pursuit of truth and accountability will finally yield results.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Alabama starting pitcher designated for assignment by MLB team
According to an announcement Wednesday afternoon by the organization, the Toronto Blue Jays have designated former Alabama Crimson Tide pitcher Spencer Turnbull for assignment. Turnbull had previously signed a free agent deal with the Blue Jays back in May after going unsigned throughout the offseason. So far this season, the veteran right-hander had made three appearances with Toronto in the major leagues, one of which was a start. Over those three appearances, Turnbull owns a 1-1 record with a 7.11 ERA and 4:4 K:BB ratio over 6.1 innings pitched. A former second round pick from the 2014 MLB draft out of Alabama, Turnbull has also made a combined five starts in the minor leagues so far this season between both Triple-A Buffalo and Low-A Dunedin. Combined between the two levels, Turnbull owns an 0-3 record with a 7.13 ERA and 14:9 K:BB ratio across 17.2 innings pitched. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
Leader Live
4 days ago
- Politics
- Leader Live
Government has ‘plain duty' to assist Omagh inquiry with swift disclosure
Lord Turnbull said his experience to date over the cooperation of some state agencies with the inquiry had caused him to have 'some concerns'. The inquiry chair was speaking at the end of two days of hearings in which the legal representatives of core participants delivered opening statements. The Real IRA bomb in the Co Tyrone town in August 1998 killed 29 people, including a woman who was pregnant with twins, in the worst single atrocity in the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The public inquiry was set up by the previous secretary of state Chris Heaton-Harris to examine whether the explosion could have been prevented by the UK authorities. Lord Turnbull said he understood the challenges of providing disclosure of relevant documents to the inquiry were 'significant'. But he added: 'The fact remains that two years have already passed since the secretary of state announced that there was to be an enquiry. 'At many times since that point the progress towards setting up the inquiry and then of trying to move towards evidential hearings, has appeared to be frustratingly slow. 'Difficulties over providing disclosure of course impact on the ability to schedule evidential hearings.' The inquiry chair said some of those watching may have observed that if successive governments had 'not so staunchly set their face against a public inquiry the problems now being grappled with would not be so acute'. He added: 'Having opposed the setting up of an inquiry so long, there is a plain duty on the Secretary of State (Hilary Benn) and others in government to remedy that now by making available whatever resources are necessary to ensure that full disclosure can be swiftly made available. 'I say that not just because of the passage of time. 'My experience to date has caused me to have some concerns. 'I have not been convinced that some of those with whom the inquiry has to depend upon to provide it with the material it seeks have always been in a position properly to engage with the inquiry or to dedicate the necessary resources to those tasks. 'I therefore trust after all that has been said over today and yesterday, that my remarks and concerns will be passed on to the relevant ministers and others who manage the responses to the inquiry's requests.' Lord Turnbull also said that the inquiry would not 'simply accept statements' that documents had been lost or destroyed. He said: 'Where claims are made that documents of importance have been destroyed or cannot be located, material providers can expect such assertions to be subjected to the most rigorous scrutiny. 'Accordingly the inquiry will expect to hear detailed evidence as to the nature of the efforts made to locate any such documents and the processes around their storage and retention. 'And having done so, the inquiry will draw such inferences as seem appropriate in light of the nature and importance of the documents concerned, alongside the quality of any evidence given by way of explanation for their absence.'
South Wales Guardian
4 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Government has ‘plain duty' to assist Omagh inquiry with swift disclosure
Lord Turnbull said his experience to date over the cooperation of some state agencies with the inquiry had caused him to have 'some concerns'. The inquiry chair was speaking at the end of two days of hearings in which the legal representatives of core participants delivered opening statements. The Real IRA bomb in the Co Tyrone town in August 1998 killed 29 people, including a woman who was pregnant with twins, in the worst single atrocity in the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The public inquiry was set up by the previous secretary of state Chris Heaton-Harris to examine whether the explosion could have been prevented by the UK authorities. Lord Turnbull said he understood the challenges of providing disclosure of relevant documents to the inquiry were 'significant'. But he added: 'The fact remains that two years have already passed since the secretary of state announced that there was to be an enquiry. 'At many times since that point the progress towards setting up the inquiry and then of trying to move towards evidential hearings, has appeared to be frustratingly slow. 'Difficulties over providing disclosure of course impact on the ability to schedule evidential hearings.' The inquiry chair said some of those watching may have observed that if successive governments had 'not so staunchly set their face against a public inquiry the problems now being grappled with would not be so acute'. He added: 'Having opposed the setting up of an inquiry so long, there is a plain duty on the Secretary of State (Hilary Benn) and others in government to remedy that now by making available whatever resources are necessary to ensure that full disclosure can be swiftly made available. 'I say that not just because of the passage of time. 'My experience to date has caused me to have some concerns. 'I have not been convinced that some of those with whom the inquiry has to depend upon to provide it with the material it seeks have always been in a position properly to engage with the inquiry or to dedicate the necessary resources to those tasks. 'I therefore trust after all that has been said over today and yesterday, that my remarks and concerns will be passed on to the relevant ministers and others who manage the responses to the inquiry's requests.' Lord Turnbull also said that the inquiry would not 'simply accept statements' that documents had been lost or destroyed. He said: 'Where claims are made that documents of importance have been destroyed or cannot be located, material providers can expect such assertions to be subjected to the most rigorous scrutiny. 'Accordingly the inquiry will expect to hear detailed evidence as to the nature of the efforts made to locate any such documents and the processes around their storage and retention. 'And having done so, the inquiry will draw such inferences as seem appropriate in light of the nature and importance of the documents concerned, alongside the quality of any evidence given by way of explanation for their absence.'
Powys County Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Omagh victims intend to use public inquiry to ‘heap shame' on Irish Government
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 Dublin over the bombing. 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 IRA bomb in the Co Tyrone town in August 1998 killed 29 people, including a woman who was pregnant with twins, in the worst single atrocity in the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The public inquiry was set up by the previous government to examine whether the explosion could have been prevented by the UK authorities. Speaking in Dublin, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said any claim that his Government had not co-operated with the inquiry was 'not fair comment'. He said a memorandum of understanding had been agreed with the chair of the inquiry, and the Government was 'very, very committed to co-operating fully with the inquiry and making material available to the inquiry'. Barrister Alan Kane KC delivered a statement on behalf of the families of Omagh victims represented by solicitor John McBurney. 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. '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 innocent women, children and men were likely to be. 'The preventability of the murders and injuries was at all times within the absolute control of the Real IRA.' He added: 'Our clients are of the clear belief that whatever aspects of preventability may lie at the door of the UK state authorities, blame, to a greater or lesser extent, rests with the state authorities in the Republic of Ireland. '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. '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.' Mr Kane said there was a 'moral, human and legal imperative' on the Dublin Government to set up its own inquiry. He said: 'As a country with a professed European inclination, it is extremely regrettable that the Republic of Ireland continues to be in breach of Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights in failing to ensure there has ever been any effective investigation into the death of the people to whom they owe that duty. 'There are preventability issues which clearly arise from the territorial origin of the Omagh bomb, and the cowardly refuge which its perpetrators enjoyed within the boundaries of the Republic of Ireland.' The barrister said his clients had likened the work of the public inquiry to an MOT vehicle test. He said: 'To their disbelief, they are told only the engine can be inspected, all that exists beyond the engine, including the body, the suspension, the brakes, the contents of the boot, cannot be examined. 'Such an MOT would clearly be unfit for purpose. 'This inquiry can only examine the parts of the car made in the UK as it were, the preventability, it cannot examine the rest of the car where the terrorists sat, or the boot area where the deadly bomb was hidden. 'If this inquiry could examine the whole car then it would also be able to examine any preventability issues which fall on the Republic of Ireland state authorities and all the faults and defects in the vehicle could be identified.' The barrister referred to comments from former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern that no stone would be left unturned to bring those responsible for the 1998 atrocity to justice. He said: 'That is a promise which has significance only for the ignoring and disregarding of it which has taken place over the almost 27 years which has passed since the Omagh bombing.' Mr Kane added: 'I have the authority of those I represent to say they are sick and tired of platitudes, false assurances, broken promises and 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 cooperation with this inquiry speaks far louder than their words.' The barrister referred to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) agreed between the inquiry and the Irish Government to allow access to material held in Dublin. Mr Kane said the MOU is 'redundant' due to the terms of how it was drafted. He said: 'First because the assessment of relevance is in the power of the Republic of Ireland, secondly because it only relates to relevance concerning preventability by the UK state authorities. 'This is an unacceptable yet significant escape clause for the Republic of Ireland. 'Under the memorandum the Republic of Ireland state authorities, and therefore any information which reflects badly on them, could be determined by them to be irrelevant.' He added: 'This voluntary statement of participation by the Government of the Republic of Ireland lacks any degree of real commitment and does nothing to give our clients any degree of confidence in it.'
