Omagh relatives criticise Minister over report delay

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell has been criticised by relatives of those who died in the Omagh bombing for his failure to release at least a summary of a report into allegations that gardaí failed to act on intelligence that might have helped prevent the atrocity.

Frustrated members of the relatives’ campaign group claimed after a meeting with the minister yesterday that he refused “point blank” to discuss the report, compiled by a three man government-appointed team. The report was handed over to the minister last month, 16 months after the team, led by Dermot Nally, was first appointed to investigate the allegations.

Omagh Support Group chairman Michael Gallagher said they had been led to believe by the Department of Foreign Affairs that the families would be given a briefing or a summary after the report had been completed and handed over. He described the trip as a complete waste of time.