POLICE in the North failed to carry out an effective investigation into a pub bombing in Northern Ireland which left 15 people dead, the Police Ombudsman said.

A pipe bomb exploded outside the home of a Catholic police officer’s father in the North, it was confirmed tonight.

Colm Murphy walked free from the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today after he was cleared of a conspiracy charge in relation to the 1998 Omagh bomb which killed 29 people and injured more than 300.

The Special Criminal Court has reserved judgment on an application to have Colm Murphy cleared of a conspiracy charge in relation to the 1998 Omagh bomb because of insufficient evidence against him.

A lawyer for Colm Murphy who is accused of conspiracy in relation to the 1998 Omagh bomb which killed 29 people and injured more than 300 today applied for a direction that his client should be acquitted.

VIGILANTES who claimed responsibility for a gun murder in Cork last month have threatened to kill other drug dealers in the city.

Legal history was made at the Special Criminal Court sitting in Dublin today when the court heard evidence from a witness by videolink from London in the trial of Colm Murphy who is accused of conspiracy in relation to the 1998 Omagh bomb.

Families bereaved by the 1998 Omagh bomb will lambast the intelligence services today for allegedly failing to pass on information to police investigators.

Northern Ireland faces an imminent threat from a group of disorganised but dangerous dissident republican terrorists, Hugh Orde said today.

A man was cleared today of murdering 29 people in the 1998 Omagh bomb atrocity.

A monument to the victims of the 1998 Omagh bomb would confront the bereaved with painful memories, a relative said today.

A recently-formed hardline republican terror group in the North is becoming more dangerously active, security chiefs in were warned today.

The Omagh bomb trial reopens today, when the defence team for Sean Hoey, the alleged Real IRA dissident republican, begins its case.

The credibility and reliability of police witnesses in a terrorist bomb trial in the North should be treated with caution, a prosecutor said today.

The Director of Public Prosecutions failed today in his bid to have prison sentences increased on two men, including a man being sued in connection with the 1998 Omagh bomb, who were jailed after gardaí discovered a major bomb making operation near the border.

The High Court in Dublin cleared the way today for a detective garda to stand trial for perjury relating to evidence he gave during the trial of Colm Murphy over the 1998 Omagh bomb.

Two new hardline republican groups are operating within the North, the latest report from ceasefire watchdog the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) claimed today.

Gardaí are seeking to question convicted child killer Robert Howard about a series of unsolved murders of women, it emerged today.

Hardline republican terror groups opposed to the peace process are still trying to mount a more effective terror campaign, the British and Irish Governments were warned today.

An academic and human rights campaigner threw his hat into the ring today for the battle for Gerry Adams’ Westminster seat.

The Court of Criminal Appeal today dismissed an appeal by Real IRA member Liam Campbell for membership of an illegal organisation.

A harrowing film dealing with the 1998 Omagh bomb has secured distribution deals in a number of countries after picking up several awards, it emerged today.

A major new inquiry has been launched into how police investigated the unsolved killing of a teenage girl in Northern Ireland more than a decade ago, it was confirmed tonight.

The SDLP are today due to unveil their latest party election broadcast featuring a survivor of the 1998 Omagh bomb.

A former republican prisoner who was questioned in connection with the 1998 Omagh bomb is seeking up to £15,000 (E21,400) in compensation for alleged trauma suffered during police interrogation.

THE alleged Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt sacked his legal team yesterday and declared that he will not take any further part in his trial for directing terrorism.

Alleged Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt sacked his legal team today and declared that he will not take any further part in his trial for directing terrorism.

The Real IRA terrorist group responsible for the 1998 Omagh bomb outrage tonight said it was to disband.

WRITS were served yesterday on three prisoners inside Portlaoise jail and two men in Dundalk in connection with the 1998 Omagh bomb outrage.

The Queen is to meet victims of the Omagh bomb amid tight security on her Golden Jubilee visit to the North.