Families of Omagh bombing victims call for cross-Border public inquiry

FAMILIES of victims killed in the Omagh Bombing last night called on the Irish Government to launch a full cross-Border public inquiry into the atrocity.

Survivors also attacked the publication of an edited version of a report investigating claims by a garda that officers ignored intelligence which could have prevented the 1998 bombing.

The Nally Report found the allegations by Detective Sergeant John White were motivated solely by concerns about his own career.

However, the Omagh Support and Self Help Group maintains key witnesses were not interviewed in its preparation.

“The Omagh families directly affected were never given an opportunity to have an input in to the inquiry,” said spokesman Michael Gallagher.

“The families are deeply concerned by the timing of the censored report into garda intelligence and John White’s allegations, in the light of court proceedings involving John White.

“We believe this report is of limited value and now call on the Government to hold a full cross border public inquiry into the full circumstances of the 1998 Omagh Bombing.”

The Real IRA attack on Omagh on August 15, 1998, killed 29 people and injured around 300 others.

The Nally Report concluded there was no foundation to Det Sgt White’s claims that a Real IRA informer told him in advance of the 1998 attack about a car which was to be used in a bombing but that on passing this warning on to a senior officer, it was never passed to the RUC.

“Indeed it is clear from what he said to the group that he made no allegation or mention whatever of his concerns to any person, not even his wife, until after his arrest on 21 March, 2000,” it said.

The report states there was a direct connection between the difficulties he found himself in with his superiors in the force and the making of his allegations concerning the bombing.

It adds that Det Sgt White’s assertion that he was motivated to make the information available by a sense of responsibility to the victims is “inherently incredible”

The Nally Group was appointed to examine matters arising from the report raising concerns of the activity of An Garda Síochána officers during 1998.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell last night told the Dáil he was always committed to producing an edited version of the report once criminal proceedings against Det Sgt White were disposed of.