Omagh relatives to meet new police team

Relatives of those killed and injured in the 1998 Omagh bombing are due to hold their first meeting tonight with the new police team appointed to investigate the atrocity.

The new team was appointed after a damning report into the original inquiry sharply criticised the RUC. Michael Gallagher, whose son died in the attack, said the relatives want to see if the recommendations in Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan’s report have been followed up.

Ms O’Loan’s report, published last year, claimed that RUC Special Branch failed to pass on intelligence information on a planned republican bombing to police in Omagh.

It also accused senior police officers, including former chief constable Ronnie Flanagan, of flawed judgement and lack of leadership during the investigation into the tragedy.

Since the report, two senior British police officers have been appointed to advise the investigation.