Relatives gather for fifth anniversary of Omagh

Relatives of the victims of the Omagh bombing have marked the fifth anniversary of the blast today by holding a memorial service close to where the bomb exploded in 1998 and observing a minute's silence.

The relatives also called for a public inquiry toinvestigate the bombing that killed 29 people and injured more than 200.

Ms Donna Marie McGillion, who was badly injured in the Omagh bomb attack,in the Remembrance Garden today.

"After five years of criminal investigations, we are nowcalling on the Dublin and London governments to give us a full cross-border public inquiry. To date, we have had six investigations into Omagh without conviction. We now want the truth about what happened on that fateful day," the relatives said after the ceremony.

The service - which took place at the Omagh Memorial Garden - consisted of prayers and songs, including one called The Voice Of Innocence, based on a poem by Omagh bombvictim Shaun McLaughlin.

Wreaths were laid in the garden, including one on behalf of the people of Omagh by the chief executive of the local council, Mr Danny McSorley.The ceremony was also attended by the Northern Ireland Security Minister, Ms Jane Kennedy and Minister for State, Mr Noel Ahern, who represented the Government.

The Irish and British governments have recently insisted they remained fully committed bringing those responsible for the atrocity to justice.

A statement released by the Government this afternoon said the Taoiseach was "very conscious of the pain and suffering endured by victims of the Omagh bombing and their relatives and of the sadness and grief that attends the fifth anniversary of that appalling atrocity".

It said the Government was "deeply committed" to pursuing the perpetrators of the bombing and to "achieving justice for the victims and their relatives" and promised to "continue its engagement with the Omagh relatives, with a view to providing whatever practical assistance it can".

Northern Ireland's Security Minister, Ms Jane Kennedy, said this morning that the investigation of the bombing was continuing "vigorously" and that police remained "confident" of convicting those responsible.

A statement from the Police Service of Northern Ireland echoed the commitment to bring those responsible to justice and said they were "disappointed that we have arrived at the fifth anniversary without a successful prosecution but this is still very much a live investigation".

The deputy leader of the Labour Party, Ms Liz McManus said it was a "matter of regret" that, "despite major investigations on both sides of the border, nobody has yet been convicted of murder arising from this heinous event."

Ms McManus described "the failure of the "Government here to provide anyassistance to the Omagh Victims' Civil Action Trust" which is taking a civilaction against those they believe to be responsible, as "disappointing".

"I am well aware of the difficulties in governments supporting civil actions of this nature, but the British authorities have been able to provide financial and other support. I would encourage Minister McDowell when he meets with representatives of the victims to examine what assistance it would be possible to provide."

Frustrated at the lack of progress in bringing the bombers to justice, some relatives of the victims are taking a civil action against five men who they blame for the attack.

The British government has agreed to help fund the action by giving £800,000 sterling for the civil action. The relatives have called on the Irish Government to match that sum.

The bomb - a mix of Semtex plastic explosive, fertiliser and fuel oil - exploded at 3.10 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon, obliterating the car it was concealed in and sending glass and masonry scything through the crowded street.

A telephone warning had been made 40 minutes earlier, but the caller had said the bomb was near the courthouse at the top of the street. As they evacuated the area, police ushered shoppers down hill towards the red car packed with explosives.

Twenty-nine people were killed. The "Real IRA" later said it was behind the attack. It said the warning had been adequate and apologised for killing civilians.

Additional reporting PA