Omagh families praise inquiry officers

Relatives of those killed in the Omagh bombing have praised the new police team heading the investigation, following a meeting…

Relatives of those killed in the Omagh bombing have praised the new police team heading the investigation, following a meeting in the town.

Mr Michael Gallagher, who lost his 21-year-old son Aidan in the "Real IRA" bombing in August 1998, described the presentation by Mr Norman Baxter, who how heads the inquiry, as "positive".

Mr Baxter is being assisted by two senior officers from the Merseyside force who were called in by the Policing Board last February.

The meeting was the first opportunity for the new police team to convince relatives that progress was being made and that criticisms of the investigation to date made by Mrs Nuala O'Loan were being acted upon.

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Mr Gallagher told The Irish Times he had "absolute confidence" in Mr Baxter, who he said was a "good operator".

The meeting was also attended by Mr Sam Kinkaid, an Assistant Chief Constable, who has contradicted aspects of Sir Ronnie Flanagan's account of the investigation. Also present was the Police Ombudsman's director of investigations.

Relatives have been worried that they had not been kept up to date on the conduct of the case and that only one person has been convicted in connection with the atrocity.

Mr Gallagher said he was worried there may not have been the political will on the part of both governments to bring the Omagh bombers before the courts.

It is now expected that regular meetings between relatives and the police investigation team will be held, perhaps every six weeks. It is also expected that relatives will have a liaison officer they can contact at any stage.