Flanagan ‘rejects Omagh bomb report’

Northern Ireland’s chief constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan has not accepted any of the recommendations of the devastating report by the province’s Ombudsman into the police investigation of the Omagh bomb atrocity.

As he made final preparations to his response to Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan, sources insisted the Northern Ireland chief constable was still examining all aspects of the probe by her team of officers.

A source said: ‘‘It would be premature to suggest that the recommendations as outlined in the Ombudsman’s report had been accepted by the chief constable, or the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

‘‘At this point, Sir Ronnie has maintained a dignified silence, but come Thursday he has promised a full, comprehensive and detailed response.’’

Some of the relatives have already called for a full public inquiry into the August 1998 bombing which claimed the lives of 29 people, including a mother pregnant with twins.

A senior Merseyside officer is to go to Northern Ireland to assist the investigation and the Chief Constable may confirm his appointment when he meets the relatives in Omagh on Thursday where he will again emphatically reject the Ombudsman’s stinging criticism of his leadership over the Omagh inquiry.

The Chief Constable has accepted many of the recommendations contained in a confidential internal review of the Royal Ulster Constabulary inquiry which was carried out by one of his most senior detectives, Chief Superintendent Brian McVicker.

It was this report which identified some serious shortcomings in the police investigation and was featured in the Ombudsman’s report. Mr McVicker has not made any public comment since the row erupted last month, but it is known he consider’s Mrs O’Loan’s attack on the Chief Constable as deeply personal, unwarranted and unfair.

The main recommendations of the O’Loan report include a review of Special Branch, and the provision of all relevant future intelligence to CID officers. Her report castigated Special Branch for failing to pass on to detectives two warnings received before the bombing.

Sir Ronnie is expected to repeat his assertion that an undercover agent known as Kevin Fulton, who delivered the second warning, lacked credibility.

The McVicker report identified a number of deficiencies in the investigation including the failure to follow up inquiries with people considered to be key witnesses.

The Chief Constable claimed the Ombudsman’s report was full of misunderstandings and unwarranted assumptions. He also said the McVicker review was misused by her office to back up erroneous and predetermined conclusions.

The Chief Constable and an assistant chief constable Raymond White, head of crime and intelligence, are still considering legal action as a result of the Ombudsman’s report.

Both have had talks with legal representatives but no decision has yet been taken if they are to press ahead with High Court action. A decision, however, is likely in the aftermath of her response to Sir Ronnie in Omagh on Thursday.