Top policeman chosen to head Omagh probe

A senior British police officer has been appointed to head a new investigation into the Omagh bomb atrocity in Northern Ireland, it emerged today.

After weeks of delicate negotiations, Mike Tonge agreed to accept the post during talks with Northern Ireland Policing Board chiefs in Belfast last night.

The Merseyside constabulary deputy chief constable was part of a delegation which flew in to sign off on the appointment.

Mr Tonge had been identified by the board as the man to quality assure a fresh probe into the August 1998 Real IRA outrage which killed 29 people.

One board source said: ‘‘This is the critical final piece in the jigsaw.’’

But it is believed officials in Liverpool had been reluctant to let another top officer go to Northern Ireland, fearing it could leave resources dangerously stretched.

One of their top detectives, Philip Jones, has already been appointed to scrutinise the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s inquiry into the bombing.

Following a bitter row between Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan and former chief constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan, Mr Jones was given equal status to the PSNI’s senior investigating officer, Brian McArthur.

In a bid to settle the dispute, the policing board agreed to bring in a top officer from an outside force to monitor the investigation.

Mr Tonge will now answer directly to the 19-strong body made up of unionist and nationalist politicians and independent members.

But he will not be quitting his job in Liverpool.

One policing board source said it would involve him being ‘‘leased out’’ to work Northern Ireland a few days each month.

Talks in Belfast last night centred around how his new role would affect Merseyside police and the terms of reference.

Mr Tonge was accompanied by his chief constable Norman Bettison, Carol Gustafson, chair of Merseyside police authority, and Dan Crompton, Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary (HMIC) for Northern Ireland.

They were met by board chairman Professor Desmond Rea and the vice chair, Denis Bradley.

Although HMIC formally made the appointment, the board have been pressing to ensure they get Mr Tonge.

‘‘There was an existing relationship and that was the attraction of getting him and Mr Jones as a combination,’’ the source added.