Ombudsman condemns 'failure' of RUC leadership

The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland today recommended an independent investigating officer be appointed to conduct a full inquiry into the Omagh bombing.

I am firmly of the view that this significant information was not handled correctly Northern Ireland Ombudsman Ms Nuala O'Loan

Ms Nuala O’Loan insisted this senior figure be independent of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, which - as the RUC - was much criticised for its handling of information received prior to the atrocity.

"This report is about a failure of leadership," she said. "The victims, their families and the officers of the RUC have been let down by defective leadership, poor judgement and a lack of urgency."

She said her report shows the leadership of the Chief Constable and Assistant Chief Constable has been seriously flawed throughout the Omagh investigation.

"As a result, the chances of detaining and convicting the Omagh bombers have been significantly reduced."

She accused the RUC of being defensive and reluctant to help her in her inquiry, alleging that senior members of the force were unco-operative in making statements and in granting access to information and computer files.

The much-leaked report explains the circumstances leading up to bombing on August 15th 1998. In particular, it claims the RUC had eleven days warning from an informer that an "unspecified" republican attack was planned on police in Omagh that day.

The anonymous caller named two people who were planning to bring two rocket launchers and a number of AK47 rifles into the town for the Continuity IRA on August 4th. Another man was said to be bringing them across the Border.

Ms Nuala O’Loan

The informant told the RUC officer that he would call the following day with further information.

This information was then conveyed to the Special Branch in Enniskillen. The officer who received the call took appropriate action and "remains blameless", Ms O’Loan said.

The ombudsman said she was "firmly of the view that this significant information was not handled correctly".

She said Special Branch officers did not act on the information, other that to await for another telephone call from the informant, which never came. They did not tell the RUC in Omagh of the threat, in direct contravention of RUC rules.

Ms O’Loan criticised the RUC for dismissing the men alleged to have been planning to transport the weapons as "only smugglers". She said the view among officers was that the men, as part of the Continuity IRA, were not to be regarded as seriously as the ‘Real IRA’, who eventually claimed responsibility for the bomb.

However, RUC policy at that time was that all dissident republicans were all to be considered as equally dangerous.

"It is not possible to say what impact other actions between August 4th 1998 and August 15th 1998 would have had or whether actions other than those taken by Special Branch could have prevented the Omagh bombing," she said.

She added while it was impossible to say whether other action being taken could have prevented the deaths of 29 people that day, if police checkpoints been established "the bombers may have been deterred".