Minister to be quizzed on surprise gardai visit to Omagh

Justice Minister John O’Donoghue is to be questioned in parliament about today’s surprise attendance of two high-ranking Dublin policemen at a meeting between Police Service of Northern Ireland chief Sir Ronnie Flanagan and relatives of Omagh bombing victims.

The meeting focused on criticism directed at Sir Ronnie’s investigation of the Real IRA atrocity by Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan.

The two officers most closely involved in Ireland’s contribution to the bombing investigation, Assistant Garda Siochana Commissioner Kevin Carty and Detective Superintendent Tadgh Foley informed Mr O’Donoghue on Wednesday night of their decision to be at the meeting.

The minister raised no objection, but there was concern in opposition and some Government circles about the implications of the two men being in on the Omagh exchanges.

It was feared that their attendance might be seen as backing for Sir Ronnie and implying criticism of Ms O’Loan’s strong comments about the Northern Ireland police investigation of the Omagh mass murder bombing.

The ombudsman’s office made no comment about the development.

But Government officials are known to have been in touch before the officers left Dublin.

They gave an assurance that the visit by the gardai was not an attempt to undermine the ombudsman’s position.

It was stressed that all TDs were fully supportive of Ms O’Loan’s recommendation that an officer independent of the Northern Ireland police service should come in and head up the new inquiry.

A Government spokesman said the two men were in the north ‘‘for the sole purpose of briefing the relatives on the state of the investigation in the Republic’’.

Garda spokesman Superintendent John Farrelly said that while some people might regard the trip as political, it was not seen in that way by the Garda Siochana.

He added: ‘‘We have met people from the Police Service of Northern Ireland on nearly a daily basis and have met the families before.

‘‘This is just another opportunity. We are in Omagh to answer any questions the families may have in relation to an elements of the Irish part of the investigation.

‘‘Some people may comment, but that is a matter for themselves.

‘‘At the end of the day, we are aiming to bring people to justice for this atrocity and there is no other agenda.’’

The officers’ decision to be in Omagh was queried, though, by Fine Gael leader Michael Noonan.

He highlighted concern about the assistant commissioner and the detective superintendent being drawn into the row between Sir Ronnie and Ms O’Loan.

Mr Noonan said: ‘‘There is a danger that that interpretation could be put on events.

‘‘There is a lot of pain and a lot of grief and there are going to be a lot of accusations. It would be difficult for the gardai not to get pulled in to the wider issues concerning the Northern Ireland police and the ombudsman.

‘‘And it would be very hard for them to simply report progress south of the border and leave it at that.’’

Mr Noonan said the issue would be raised in the Dail.

‘‘The person who is really accountable is the Minister for Justice and we will ask him what was the political thinking behind this decision, which can be subject to misinterpretation and put the gardai in an unenviable position.’’

The police trip north was defended by Tanaiste Mary Harney.

She said it would have been ‘‘badly represented’’ if the two men had not gone to the Co Tyrone town, and added: ‘‘For many years there has been criticism that the Garda Siochana had not co-operated fully with their counterparts in Northern Ireland, and vice versa.

‘‘The guards are there simply to explain to the families the state of the investigation of the Omagh bombing.

‘‘I believe if they were not there, it would be badly misrepresented.

‘‘Priority has to be to bring to justice those responsible for that awful atrocity in August, 1998.’’

The visit was backed, too, by the Labour party.

Deputy leader and Justice spokesman Brendan Howlin said he did not believe the assistant commissioner or his colleague would get involved in the row between Sir Ronnie and Nuala O’Loan ‘‘in any shape or form’’.

Mr Howlin added: ‘‘I welcome the attendance of the two gardai.

‘‘I do not believe that anybody should read anything more into it than what is obvious.’’

Senior Sinn Fein member Martin McGuinness, in Dublin today for meetings linked to the general election due here later this year, said the garda attendance in Omagh was a matter for the force.

But Mr McGuinness, the Northern Ireland Executive’s Education Minister, also said he believed Sir Ronnie’s position was now ‘‘impossible’’ in the wake of the criticism directed at him.

:: The two officers themselves made little comment as they left Omagh. Mr Foley said only: ‘‘We are here for the families.’’ Mr Carty said: ‘‘We are giving no interviews.’’