Irish government accused of disrespect over Omagh bomb inquiry

The Omagh bomb exploded on a busy street on a Saturday afternoon in 1998

The Irish government has been labelled "disrespectful" for ignoring a judge's call for a public inquiry into the Omagh bomb on both sides of the border.

Solicitor John McBurney represents some families bereaved by the 1998 atrocity.

He has called for Dublin to reconsider after a minister indicated there is no new evidence to merit a public inquiry in the Republic of Ireland.

Twenty-nine people, including a woman pregnant with twins, died in the Real IRA attack.

In 2021, High Court judge Mr Justice Horner recommended the UK government carry out a new investigation into whether the bombing was preventable.

He also urged the Irish government to do likewise.

Twenty-nine people, including a woman pregnant with twins, died in the Real IRA attack

Earlier this year, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris announced that an independent statutory inquiry would be held.

Its terms of reference are currently being finalised.

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On Wednesday, Peter Burke, Irish Minister for European Affairs and Defence, said a number of investigations had already been carried out in Ireland into the bombing.

He stated the Nally Report had found no significant new evidence which warranted the establishment of an inquiry, adding: "That is our position at the moment."

Mr Burke said Dublin would co-operate fully with the UK inquiry.

Mr McBurney, who represents some relatives in the Families Moving On victims' support group, said: "On behalf of my clients, I wish to convey the sense of surprise and disappointment felt on hearing the indication by minister Burke during a BBC interview.

"The Nally Report did not have the necessary powers to fully probe all matters and therefore many aspects remain to be inquired into.

"Lord Justice Horner made it quite clear in a very detailed judgment that full investigation in both jurisdictions was necessary in order to fully deal with the matter."

A commemoration was held in Omagh earlier this week to remember the victims of the bombing 25 years on

Mr McBurney added: "It is essential that the Irish government must reflect urgently on how disrespectful and unsatisfactory it is to ignore the obvious need, in tandem with a statutory inquiry in Northern Ireland, to properly investigate by public inquiry all matters outstanding as elucidated in the judgment of Lord Justice Horner.

"The call is now for reconsideration of the negative position outlined by minister Burke and an indication that a tandem inquiry will be launched in the Republic of Ireland.

"It is difficult to see how all aspects can be properly probed by any other arrangement."

'Irish government must step up to the plate'

Kevin Skelton, who lost his wife Philomena in the Omagh bomb, questioned the extent to which the Irish government would co-operate with any inquiry and accused it of "only revealing what it wants to".

"The bomb was made in the south of Ireland, the people who brought it in were from the south of Ireland, there was people convicted in a civil court," he said.

"We need the Irish government to step up to the plate, it is time to do what is morally right."

Kevin Skelton lost his wife Philomena in the Omagh bombing

Mr Skelton said that for him 25 years on from the tragedy "the bomb is still going off every day".

He added: "We now have a chance to have it brought to a close, people can move on and have whatever life we have left to live in relative peace.

"Not having to worry about what comes on the TV when you switch it on because I myself can't take much more and I am sure there are families out there who feel the same."

The Irish Department of Justice told BBC News NI "no new evidence emerged" following a number of reviews and investigations in the Republic which "warranted the establishment of a public inquiry in Ireland".

"The Irish government is anxious to ensure as far as possible, that by the end of the UK inquiry, there are no unanswered questions relating to the Omagh bombing that can only be examined in this state," they continued.

"The Irish authorities will fully engage with the UK inquiry in this regard."