07 February 2002

Policing Board locked in talks over Omagh investigation

The Northern Ireland Policing Board remained locked in talks for much of Thursday as they discussed the future direction the Omagh bomb investigation should take.

The Board, which is made up of individuals from both sides of the political divide met on Thursday, February 7, in an attempt to hammer out a compromise at Clarendon Dock. By late on Thursday afternoon, no decision had yet been reached.

The 19-strong body has been under the spotlight for most of the week with both the Chief Constable and the Police Ombudsman offering their projections as to what would be the best way forward to handle the Omagh investigation.

The board has been brought forward to solve the bitter and public row between Sir Ronnie Flanagan and Nuala O'Loan over the RUC handling of the Omagh Investigation.

Published in December 2001, the Ombudsman's report was highly critical of the then RUC investigation into the Omagh bomb, which exploded in Omagh town centre on August 15, 1998, killing 29 people.

Responding to the Ombudsman's report in January 2002, Sir Ronnie defended the police's actions and insisted her report was "flawed" and full of "inaccuracies."

Thursday's meeting will seek to find a middle way between these agencies and above all help the healing process of the victims and bereaved of the Omagh bomb.

(AMcE)