Minister rejects Omagh claims

Justice Minister John O’Donoghue has said that the gardaí totally deny allegations that they received advance information which could have prevented the 1998 Omagh bombing.

It emerged yesterday that the Police Ombudsman in the North, Nuala O’Loan, has uncovered claims that an informer gave gardaí information about a possible attack, but they never passed the tip-off to their colleagues in the RUC.

Mr O’Donoghue issued a statement last night saying that Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne rejects the allegations and will co-operate fully with an investigation into the claims. He has launched a special inquiry on the issue.

A report Ms O’Loan presented to the Government last night reveals that her office was introduced to a garda who claimed to have new information about events leading up to the Real IRA bombing on August 15, 1998.

The sergeant said an informer, who had worked with the Real IRA in the past, revealed that he had been asked by the organisation to steal a car.

The sergeant in question is currently suspended from duty because of the inquiry into alleged corruption in the Donegal area.