The Garda and the RUC have made a fresh appeal to the public to help bring those responsible for the Omagh bomb to justice. Today is the third anniversary of the atrocity.
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More than 7,000 people have been interviewed in the investigation so far and more than 3,000 statements taken on both sides of the border. However, to date, nobody has been charged directly with carrying out the attack. Superintendent James Baxter of the RUC and Garda Superintendent Tadgh Foley appeared at a joint press conference this morning to appeal for information.The father of one of the victims, Mr Michael Gallagher, said: "I think there is a quiet determination to make sure that things happen."We're going to keep pressure on both governments to stand by the commitments they made in the aftermath of Omagh."A man whose wife died in the Omagh bombing angrily interrupted to challenge the police investigation so far.Mr Lawrence Rush later explained his intervention, saying he hoped the civil case would prompt police action. "The law has left us no options but to pursue this," he said."We want a result in court that could lead and prompt the police on to maybe taking out criminal action against them."Twenty-nine people, among them a woman heavily pregnant with twins, died on August 15th 1998 when a 500lb Real IRA bomb exploded in the Co Tyrone town.Forensic scientists sifted through tonnes of rubble and the mangled remains of the Cavalier car used in the attack for clues.Officers also traced a series of mobile calls made by the suspected bombers that day to piece together their journey into the townOnly one man is facing criminal charges in relation to the blast. He is currently awaiting trial in the Republic, accused of conspiracy to cause an explosion and membership of an illegal organisation.The families of the dead last week started their own attempt to bring those allegedly responsible before the courts with a High Court writ for compensation.A spokesman for the RUC said of today's new police initiative: "We're trying everything possible to bring the people responsible before the courts. We know that there are bound to be people who do have information who maybe have not come forward yet."It could be a very small piece of information which closes the crucial gap".Later today the bereaved families were marking the anniversary with an inter-denominational prayer service in the Garden of Remembrance, which was constructed within the view of the lethal explosion.Families of the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombing which killed 33 are to join them and plant a tree in the garden.
PA