09 June 2009

O'Loan In "Two-Minds" Over Omagh Inquiry

Former Police Ombudsman Dame Nuala O'Loan has said she is in "two-minds" about the need for a public inquiry into the Omagh bombing, after four men were found responsible for the atrocity in a landmark civil ruling yesterday.

Dame Nuala said the law had "finally held somebody responsible" for the 1998 Real IRA attack, but still insisted there were too many breaks in the 'chain of evidence' to ever secure criminal convictions.

A successful High Court action brought by the families of those murdered found Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly liable for the bombing.

A damning report into the RUC's handling of the original Omagh investigation was published by Dame Nuala's office in 2001.

Paying tribute to the courageous families of victims, Dame Nuala said so much more is now known about the circumstances surrounding the attack because of their actions.

"There would never have been such a judgement otherwise," she said.

"It was always my view, once I identified the extent of the failure of the investigation and particularly the failure of RUC Special Branch over the information which would have enabled detectives to do the job I honestly believe they wanted to do, it was most unlikely there would be a successful criminal trial."

Dame Nuala said a criminal trial requires a chain of evidence without a single break.

She said their was "so much" missing from the RUC Special Branch investigation.

"There were documents lost, investigative actions not taken, evidence was allowed to be contaminated - all those things meant it would be enormously difficult to achieve a criminal conviction."

On the question of a formal public inquiry, Dame Nuala said she was in "two-minds" as to whether it would be worthwhile.

"I think it would be advantageous in terms of the future conduct in the war against terrorism - if you identify what happened in such an atrocity you arm yourself with the knowledge that will enable you to prevent future atrocities," she said.

No-one has every been criminally convicted for the murders of 29 people and unborn twins in the Omagh town centre terror attack.

See: Men Ruled Liable For Omagh Bomb

(PR/JM)