Omagh relatives launch inquiry appeal

Some of the relatives of the Omagh bomb atrocity are to make a face to face appeal to politicians on all sides in Northern Ireland…

Some of the relatives of the Omagh bomb atrocity are to make a face to face appeal to politicians on all sides in Northern Ireland to back their demands for a full cross-Border inquiry.

All 108 members of the Assembly as well as MPs and the three MEPs have been invited to a special presentation at Stormont tomorrow night.

It will be delivered by Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, whose son Aidan was among the 29 killed by the no-warning Real IRA bomb in August 1998.

He declared: “A fog has been hanging over Omagh since then and we need the politicians - not just here, but in Dublin and London - to help us lift it.”

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A High Court case by relatives who are claiming £14 million compensation from five of the men they alleged were involved in the attack is due to begin in Belfast next Monday. But the civil action and other outstanding legal issues should not be allowed to delay the setting up of the cross-border tribunal, according to the families.

The policing board has also ordered a review of the police investigation following the acquittal just before Christmas of Sean Hoey, the south Armagh man who had been charged with all 29 murders.

Mr Gallagher’s presentation at the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings is due to last around 40 minutes and he is expecting a full turn out.

He said today: “We are concerned about the lack of knowledge that policy and decision makers have about the circumstances surrounding the Omagh bomb.

They need to be enlightened. “When we met with the Police Board six weeks ago, we were shocked at the lack of knowledge by some of the representatives. It was for that reason that we have their education campaign and the place to start has to be Stormont.

“It is now vital, especially after the not guilty verdict, that we have this inquiry. “Even though every possible intelligence agency here and in the south was involved in some way, we have yet to get a conviction in Northern Ireland.

“Just 34 miles away from Omagh, there have been two inquiries (into Bloody Sunday). It’s high time there was some parity of esteem.”

PA