Flanagan to defend Omagh bomb probe

The row between Ronnie Flanagan and Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan over the investigation into the Omagh bomb was set to intensify today as the Chief Constable prepared to issue a robust defence of his officers.

Mr Flanagan was expected to launch a fierce fightback against the Ombudsman probe into his officers’ investigation of the Real IRA bomb which killed 29 people in the Co Tyrone town in August 1998.

In particular, he is expected to angrily deny the Ombudsman’s claim in her December 12 report that he and Assistant Chief Constable Raymond White were guilty of ‘‘flawed leadership and judgment’’ which hampered efforts to catch the bombers.

The Chief Constable, who will present his response today to the relatives of those killed and survivors of bomb, will defend his officers from allegations that they were uncooperative during the Ombudsman’s investigation.

He will deny that vital information, such as the existence of an internal police review into the bomb investigation, was withheld from the inquiry team.

Mr Flanagan has also rejected Mrs O’Loan’s call for an outside officer to head an investigation into the Omagh atrocity.

An officer who headed the original murder investigation, which was heavily criticised by Mrs O’Loan, is to stay in charge and he will be advised by a senior policeman from Merseyside.

The Ombudsman had recommended a team headed by a senior officer, independent of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, be set up.

But Superintendent Brian McArthur, the former deputy senior investigating officer who has been running the probe for the last 18 months, is to remain in control working with the senior Merseyside detective who, according to Mr Flanagan, will have unrestricted access as part of moves to ‘‘quality assure’’ the investigation.

Mrs O’Loan had also recommended a second outside officer be called in to investigate terrorist incidents linked to the Omagh outrage.

Mr Flanagan will tell relatives he is keeping a Northern Ireland officer in charge as he believes there is a difference between how terrorism is investigated in the North as opposed to the investigation of crime in England and Wales.

The Chief Constable will also agree that the investigative team should be given access to appropriate intelligence on the bomb, but will argue that consideration must be given to the sensitivity of information obtained by Special Branch through its network of informers.

It is expected to be a tense and difficult private session with the relatives, with Mr Flanagan issuing a strong rebuttal of the Ombudsman’s criticisms.

The rift is unlikely to be healed with confirmation that there will be no new outside officer to take charge of the hunt for the Real IRA bombers who killed 29 people, including a mother pregnant with twins, in the single biggest terrorist outrage in the 30 years of Northern Ireland bloodshed.

Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan, 21, was among the dead, said last night: ‘‘People are totally disillusioned. They have nothing against the police but have lost faith in their investigation.

‘‘With these decisions, they (the police) are only tinkering with it.

‘‘Same investigation team, same obstacles and unless there is some 11th hour miracle, then I don’t think any of the families who want a full independent inquiry will settle for anything less, certainly not this.’’

Colm Murphy, a wealthy businessman and dedicated republican from Dundalk, Co Louth, convicted of bomb conspiracy charges linked to the atrocity, is facing a life sentence when he appears before three judges in Dublin tomorrow.

Even though police on both sides of the border believe they may have identified the gang responsible, nobody else has been charged.