SDLP 'playing politics over Omagh report'

Nationalists are destroying the credibility of the policing board by endorsing the controversial report on the Omagh inquiry before hearing all the evidence, it was claimed tonight.

Fred Cobain, an Ulster Unionist member of the board, accused the SDLP of playing politics by demanding the recommendations of the police ombudsman Nuala O’Loan are implemented speedily.

He was speaking after a board sub-committee met to discuss how to handle the report, which accuses the police of letting down the 29 victims of the Omagh atrocity.

Mr Cobain was critical of the SDLP’s support for the ombudsman’s position without hearing the response of the Chief Constable.

‘‘Why are people on the board taking up a position on the report before they have read the Chief Constable’s response?

‘‘It is disgraceful. We have only got half the story and the SDLP think that’s enough. The whole credibility of the board is at stake here,’’ he said.

Board chairman Professor Desmond Rea insisted it would be robust in meeting its responsibilities in addressing the issues raised by the report.

But he added it was important to balance the need to deal with the matter quickly with the requirement to be in possession of all relevant information.

The board will begin examining the facts with a series of meetings next month.

‘‘The board understands the strength of feeling which exists surrounding this report,’’ he said.

‘‘Our primary concern in deciding how to approach it has always been and continues to be the victims of the Omagh atrocity and their families and the effectiveness of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.’’

A blazing row erupted last week after Ms O’Loan’s report accused the Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan and other senior officers of defective leadership and flawed judgment.

She was fiercely critical of the role of Special Branch before and after the Real IRA bomb which killed 29 people including a woman with unborn twins.

The Chief Constable has strongly rejected its findings and is threatening to take legal action. He will deliver his full response to the report to the Board at its meeting in January.

Yesterday, the SDLP, after holding separate meetings with Ms O’Loan and the Chief Constable, defended the integrity of the report.

Assembly member Patricia Lewsley called for a swift and full implementation of its recommendations which included a review of the role of Special Branch and the appointment of a senior independent officer to head up the Omagh investigation.

After a three-hour meeting of the policing board’s corporate policy committee tonight it was agreed that the matter should go to the full board next month.