Policing Board may discuss O'Loan's bomb report today

The North's Policing Board is expected to discuss the Police Ombudsman's report into the Omagh bombing tomorrow.

The North's Policing Board is expected to discuss the Police Ombudsman's report into the Omagh bombing tomorrow.

The board will begin its third meeting tomorrow morning in Belfast, before the Ombudsman's report is made public. Already on the agenda are the issues of a badge and emblem, as well as the process of finding a new Chief Constable to replace Sir Ronnie Flanagan who has announced he intends to retire.

Mr Eddie McGrady, one of the board's SDLP members, said he intended to raise the Ombudsman's report at the meeting. He said he had not seen the report but expected to do so.

"There will be no doubt about raising the matter as it is of the utmost importance to the public generally and the police service," he said, adding he could not say what position he and his party colleague, Mr Joe Byrne, would take on the report until he had seen it.

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Ms O'Loan will present the findings and recommendations of her report to the relatives of those killed in the 1998 bombing tomorrow morning and will release it to the press in the afternoon. It was not clear last night at what stage the policing board would receive a copy.

Mr McGrady said the issue of leaking the report would also be raised. "It's totally unacceptable that a document of such limited circulation and import should have the availability to be leaked," he said. "It should be relatively easy to find out how the leak took place and by whom, in which case disciplinary action would have to be taken."

The debate on the report is likely to deepen divisions on the board, which is severely split over the issue of flags and emblems. Mr Sammy Wilson, a DUP member of the board, said the leak showed it was clear it would have to protect police officers from the "Ombudsman's gestapo".

The winner of a Belfast Telegraph competition for an emblem for the new service was announced yesterday. It is a shield with the cross of St Patrick over a wreath of shamrocks. This is unlikely to end the dispute on the board.