Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan is investigating claims that security forces had prior knowledge of the Omagh bomb, it was announced today.
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A combination photo shows (top) police standing in the rubble after the Omagh bomb and (bottom) local people going about their day-to-day business on the third anniversary of the attack August 15, 2001.
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The news came two days after the third anniversary of the outrage in Co Tyrone which killed 29 people, including a woman heavily pregnant with twins.
Mrs O'Loan's intervention followed newspaper reports that security forces had intelligence warning of an imminent bomb attack only days before the Real IRA bomb ripped through a crowded street on August 15, 1998. Security chiefs have vehemently denied the allegations which alarmed relatives of those killed and the survivors of the 500lb car bomb explosion.
The claims were reported to have come from a former Special Branch agent, known as Kevin Fulton.
A statement issued from the office of the Police Ombudsman said Mrs O'Loan was investigating the issues of whether police received prior warning of the bomb and of whether any information received was appropriately dealt with.
It added: "Following consideration of this matter over the last three weeks the Police Ombudsman has informed the Secretary of State (John Reid) and the Chief Constable (Sir Ronnie Flanagan) of her decision to investigate.
A statement from RUC headquarters said: "The Chief Constable has discussed the matter with the Ombudsman and welcomes her examination of the issue, which he hopes will be reassuring to the families of the victims of this dreadful atrocity."
Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Adrian in the bombing, welcomed the move and said: "I think that the office of the Ombudsman is the proper people to investigate these allegations.
"I would like to see them investigate it as thoroughly and as quickly as possible. It would be wrong for me or anyone else to prejudge the outcome of that or say anything that would influence anyone in any way."
PA