Gardaí cleared of wrongdoing ahead of Omagh atrocity

SERIOUS allegations concerning garda mishandling of intelligence in advance of the Omagh atrocity were completely without foundation.

The long-awaited findings of the Nally Report were revealed by Minister of Justice Michael McDowell in a statement to the Dáil last night. However, in a decision that is likely to cause upset to relatives of the victims of the 1998 bombing, Mr McDowell said he would not publish the report. During his 15-minute speech he revealed little about the contents of the report other than the accusations and the findings.

Mr McDowell justified this on the grounds that it dealt with highly sensitive matters that affected the security of the State and the lives of individuals.

"It would be the height of irresponsibility for me to put in the public domain information that would be of use only to paramilitary terrorists in waging their campaign," he said.

The report, drafted by a three-person group headed by former Government secretary general Dermot Nally, concluded there was no foundation for the allegations which it examined. It interviewed 35 people and met 62 times and also received written submissions.

A suspended Donegal-based detective garda, John White, had claimed that actions could have been taken by the gardaí on foot of information supplied by informants which would have prevented the Omagh bombing. He also alleged ministerial interference with the prosecution process and unlawful and improper conduct on the part of garda officers.

"[The conclusion of the group] is to be welcomed not least by those gardaí who had to live under the shadow of these allegations," Mr McDowell said.

"But I am all too well aware from my contacts with some of the Omagh relatives that some of them will be disappointed that I am not in a position to offer further information."

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said he was disappointed the report was not being made public and that the statement from Mr McDowell had been delayed.

He said one key participant believed to be Det Garda White's informant was not interviewed by the group. "In a report which seeks to draw conclusions from seriously conflicting evidence, this is a major omission," he said.