McDowell to make statement on Omagh report findings

THE first indications of the findings of the Nally Report into the Omagh atrocity will be revealed later today.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell will make what is understood to be a substantial statement on the long-awaited report.

The report has been produced by a three-man committee, headed by Dermot Nally, the former secretary general of the Taoiseach’s Department.

The team investigated allegations that An Garda Síochána was in possession of information that could have helped to prevent the Omagh bombing but did not use it nor pass it on to the police in Northern Ireland. The minister, who received the report some months ago, gave a commitment to making a statement on its findings to the Dáil. However, other than saying that the minister will be making a detailed statement on the matter tonight, no indication was given as to its contents, or as to whether or not the report itself will be made public.

It is thought unlikely that the report will be published because of the sensitive security and operational information that it contains.

In addition to Mr Nally, the other members of the team were former Director of Public Prosecutions Eamon Barnes and former secretary of the Department of Justice Joe Brosnan.

Meanwhile, the Government yesterday confirmed that it will publish the “southern” aspect of the Cory Report probably later this week, irrespective of a British Government decision to delay the publication of the parts of the report that relate to the North.