Flanagan threatens legal action over O'Loan’s report

The Ombudsman’s report which questioned the judgement and leadership of Chief Constable during the investigation into the 1998 Omagh Bomb has been dismissed by Sir Ronnie Flanagan as “grossly unfair and erroneous” in its findings.

Speaking after the publication of the report by Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan on Wednesday December 12, Sir Ronnie said he found the report so unpalatable that he would be considering taking legal action to have the report quashed.

On Wednesday, Sir Ronnie said he considered the report to represent neither a “fair, thorough or rigorous investigation”. He said if he believed the allegations in the report had been true “I would not only resign, I would publicly commit suicide”.

The Ombudsman’s report recommended a senior officer from a police force outside Northern Ireland is asked to conduct an investigation into the bombing. The report also recommended a review into the role and function of Special Branch, which is heavily criticised for not passing on intelligence information about an imminent attack on Omagh.

As a result of the report some of the families of the 29 people who died in the Real IRA bomb in Omagh town on August 15 are calling for a public inquiry.

The Policing Board is to hold a special meeting early next month to discuss Nuala O'Loan’s report. It is has been reported that the Chief Constable, the Police Ombudsman and relatives of the Omagh victims will be invited to the special meeting.

The Policing Board, which includes 10 political representatives and nine non-political appointees, is responsible for overseeing the new service and can hold the chief constable to account.

Commenting on the publication of the Police Ombudsman's Report the Secretary of State Dr John Reid said: “This report about the single worst atrocity of the troubles deserves to be studied carefully. I will be taking time to look at it and to hear the response of the Chief Constable and the police and the views of the Policing Board. I hope others will also take time to read it without rushing to judgement or playing politics with it.”

The SDLP spokesperson on Policing and Justice Alex Attwood said: “The Report of the Ombudsman appears to be a withering indictment of the RUC and its actions. Its content and conclusions must be acted on, and be seen to be acted upon, in a fundamental and immediate way.”

Mr Attwood also claimed that the Chief Constable must be held accountable for his actions and his actions of the Special Branch and the RUC. (AMcE)