Published Date:
04 April 2006
The families of those killed by the Omagh bomb said yesterday that intelligence gathered by MI5 may have prevented the atrocity – if it had been passed on to police.
Their claim followed a meeting with Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde who confirmed that the
specialist intelligence, gathered prior to the 1998 Real IRA bombing, had only been passed to the PSNI earlier this year.
Michael Gallagher, whose son, Aidan, was among the 29 people and unborn twins murdered, said: "Sir Hugh confirmed it was only earlier this year that the PSNI was aware of that intelligence for the first time. It was
important for us to hear it from the Chief Constable.
"That was something outside his control, but nevertheless we believe it could have made a
difference. The police in Omagh had a right to know that intelligence so that they could at least have had a chance.
"It may or may not have had a bearing on the Omagh bomb, but at least it would have raised the state of awareness that there was a bomb attack on its way."
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Last Updated:
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Belfast
