McDowell rules out publication of Nally Report

The Minister for Justice today ruled out publication of the Nally Report into Garda anti-terrorism operations before the Omagh bombing that killed 29 people in 1998.

The Labour Party today joined Omagh relatives in demanding publication of the report following the acquittal of one of the central figures on corruption charges yesterday.

Detective Sergeant John White from Ballybofey was acquitted at Letterkenny Circuit Court of three charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice and three of making false statements.

The trial judge directed the jury that Mr White should be found not guilty because of inconsistencies in the evidence of the main prosecution witness. The courts have still to rule on a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm against Mr White.

Mr White had claimed a "Real IRA" informer alerted him before the 1998 attack about a car which was to be used in a bombing. He said he passed the warning on to a senior Garda officer but it was not conveyed to the RUC.

In December 2003, Mr McDowell told the Dáil that the Nally Report found no evidence to support any of Mr White's claims. Last February he said he would make an edited copy of the report public after the DPP had pursued charges against Mr White.

A statement from Mr McDowell's office said this evening his position remains unchanged from the one he outlined to the Dáil last February.

The statement said that because Mr White still faces a criminal charge "publication of the Nally Report in an edited version does not arise until those proceedings are disposed of."

"Given those circumstances and the ongoing work of the Morris Tribunal, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment," it concluded.

Labour leader Mr Pat Rabbitte called for the report to be published. "Sgt White has described the prosecution as 'malicious' and has called for a probe into the officers - senior-ranking members of the Garda Siochána - who investigated him," he said.

"This acquittal has major consequences for public confidence in the integrity of the Garda Siochána in general and the allegations being investigated by the Morris Tribunal in particular.

"It is now time for Minister McDowell to deliver on his earlier commitment and to make public a version of the Nally Report."

Omagh relatives, who were at yesterday's court hearing, claimed the clearing of six of the charges against Mr White placed a fresh onus on the Government to release the Nally Report.