Families angry as Ahern fails to attend Omagh anniversary

THE families of the victims of the Omagh bombing have criticised Taoiseach Bertie Ahern for not attending the commemoration to mark the fifth anniversary of the atrocity, despite the fact that he is on holiday in nearby Donegal.

Michael Gallagher, the spokesman for the families, pointed out yesterday that Mr Ahern had been invited to all the anniversary commemorations since the 1998 Real IRA bomb which claimed 29 lives, but had been unable to attend.

He did attend a ceremony held in Omagh a week after the atrocity.