24 January 2002

PSNI Chief Constable hits back at Omagh critics

The Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan has presented his report to the families and the bereaved of the 1998 Real IRA Omagh bomb victims.

Sir Ronnie’s 28-page report was compiled in response to criticism levelled at him and police handling of the Omagh investigation by the Police Ombudsman, Nuala O’Loan early in December 2001.

The report - which is extremely factual in content - provides the PSNI’s detailed response to what they call “unfounded criticisms in the Ombudsman’s report and sets the record straight about what police did, and what they knew, before and after the explosion in Omagh on 15 August 1998.”

The families and relatives of the Omagh victims received the PSNI report early on Thursday January 24, which was followed by a four hour long question and answer session with the Chief Constable.

Relatives of the bombing have responded in varying degrees to the Chief Constable’s report, but most have said they needed time to reflect. However Lawrence Rushe, whose wife Libby was killed in the bomb, has stated that he is not happy and has calling for an independent inquiry. Michael Gallagher, whose son also died in the bomb, said that the relatives wanted further clarification from Sir Ronnie on several issues.

The Police Ombudsman has also responded to the PSNI report. Speaking on Thursday afternoon, Ms O’ Loan said she had received the report yesterday and that she had not yet studied the police document fully, but she affirmed that she still stood “very firmly behind what I said in the report.”

The Secretary of State Dr John Reid said he would be taking time to digest the report but that he hoped others would read it “without rushing to judgement or playing politics with it.” (AMcE)