Relatives of Omagh bomb victims ‘deserve an apology’ says Arlene Foster
Relatives of those murdered in the 1998 Omagh bomb deserve an apology over the length of time a court is taking to rule on a call for a public inquiry, First Minister Arlene Foster has said.
Twenty-nine people - including a woman pregnant with twins - were killed in the Real IRA bomb in August 1998.
It was the biggest single atrocity in the history of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
The case began in 2013 and concluded almost two years ago, but there has been no judgement.
The lord chief justice’s office has blamed the situation on the assessment of “sensitive” documents.
After meeting some of the families, Mrs Foster said the delay is “inordinate”.
The legal action, brought by Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was one of the victims, followed a decision by the government to reject the need for a public inquiry eight years ago.
It said there had been multiple investigations, including those involving the Police Ombudsman.
Central to Mr Gallagher’s judicial review case are claims that intelligence from MI5 and the police could have been drawn together to prevent the Real IRA attack.
The legal action, brought by Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was one of the victims, followed a decision by the government to reject the need for a public inquiry eight years ago.
It said there had been multiple investigations, including those involving the Police Ombudsman.
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