Ahern admits pre-Omagh contact with 32-County Movement

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has told the Dail that his Government had no contacts with the Real IRA following the 1998 Omagh bombing.

However, Mr Ahern did admit that his former Northern advisor, Martin Mansergh, contacted the 32-County Sovereignty Movement - the political wing of the Real IRA - before the Omagh attack to seek a ceasefire. However, Mr Ahern said these efforts failed and the Government made no contact with the group again.

The Taoiseach's statement today followed newspaper reports at the weekend which said that Mr Mansergh contacted a Belfast priest after the Omagh bombing with a view to setting up talks with the Real IRA. The same reports also suggested that the Government had done a deal with the group whereby it would not pursue charges against Real IRA members if the organisation declared a ceasefire.

Mr Ahern said today that these allegations were "outrageous" and "offensive".