Summary

  • The inquiry has this week moved into a new phase and is hearing from witnesses and people injured in the attack

  • On Thursday, the inquiry heard from David McSwiggan, Jim Sharkey, Suzanne Travis and Margaret Murphy, along with statements from Lisa McGonigle and Nichola Donnelly

  • The inquiry is examining whether the worst atrocity of the Troubles could have been prevented

  • Twenty-nine people, including a woman expecting twins, were murdered in the Real IRA attack on 15 August 1998

  • Relatives have had the opportunity to speak or provide statements in memory of those who died

Live Reporting

Edited by Hayley Halpin. Warning: This page contains distressing details

  1. 'A home bird' who loved knitting and reading

    Mr Skelton says he and his wife 'Mena' were like chalk and cheese, as his wife liked to stay at home knitting and reading, while he was out working and refereeing sports

    He says he used to sit and watch her knitting and reading at the same time and the jumpers she knitted were sold in America.

    Mr Skelton says he couldn't even boil an egg, but Mena did everything in the house for him.

    He says the relationship worked. that his wife had her own way of doing things - he says she was a "home bird".

    He says they were dedicated to each other and to their children and that her killing stole her from him and his children.

  2. Inquiry resumes

    A man sits behind a microphone and a computer screen, he has a green jacket and cream jumper. He is balding with wispy grey hair and glasses. He is sitting in front of a blue background.Omagh Bombing Inquiry

    The inquiry has returned after its short break - it's now hearing from Kevin Skelton, the husband of 39-year-old Philomena Skelton.

  3. 'An enormous loss'

    Inquiry chair Lord Turnbull says it was obvious that Mrs Short's death caused an enormous loss to her family and, particularly, her husband.

    The children view their father as another casualty of the bombing after his premature death in 2004, he adds.

    He thanks the Short family for their assistance to the inquiry.

    The inquiry has now taken a 30-minute break and will hear the commemoration of Philomena Skelton when it returns.

  4. 'Our Dad was another victim'

    The statement says the family's lives changed the day of the bombing, when "our loving mother was taken away from us".

    "We never got the chance to say goodbye or see her grow old," it adds.

    The family say that their father was another victim of the bombing as he died, aged 64, after becoming depressed.

    "We all did our best to look after Dad which wasn't easy as we had all been dramatically affected. We tried to carry on for our own families. We had no mother to turn to for her wise guidance, for council or calming hugs."

  5. 'Our world was shattered' - family of Veda Short

    A middle-aged woman looks at the camera, she has short greying hair and glasses.PA

    Today's proceedings begin with a statement read on behalf of the children of 56-year-old Veda Short.

    She is described as a "loving wife, mother and grandmother" who was very family-orientated and very active within her church,

    "She never had a bad word to say about anyone," the statement adds, and had just gotten over the death of her own mother.

    Mrs Short had just returned from a holiday in Alicante and had much to look forward to.

    The family's world was "shattered" on the day of her bomb and her husband never got over it.

    Mrs Short was a shop assistant in Watterson's drapers and was on her lunch break when the bomb went off.

    The mother-of-four was one of three of the shop's staff who were killed by the blast, along with Ann McCombe and Geraldine Breslin.

  6. Good morning

    Hello and welcome back to BBC News NI's live coverage of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry as the third week of hearings begins.

    The public inquiry was set up by the government to examine whether the 1998 explosion could have been prevented by the UK authorities.

    The hearings will resume today with more personal testimonies from families who lost loved ones in the Real IRA attack.

    Today we are expected to here from:

    • Commemoration of Veda Short on behalf of Alison Crozier, Frances Henry, Ian Short and Elaine Magowan
    • Commemoration of Philomena Skelton by Kevin Skelton
    • Commemoration of Lorraine Wilson by Ann Wilson, Denise Kerrigan and Colin Wilson
    • Commemoration of Julia Hughes

    The inquiry is due to begin at 10:00 GMT.