The Omagh Bombing Inquiry has heard that the Gardaí warned the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) that a car bomb was due to cross the border the day before the 1998 atrocity that killed 29 people. The former chief constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, told the inquiry that the failure to bring those responsible to justice is a source of deep regret, while apologising for what he described as his "crass" response to a critical police ombudsman report.
The inquiry, resuming in Belfast on Monday, was told that on 14 August 1998, during a police meeting, the regional head of special branch South raised an “urgent” issue: the officer said the Gardaí believed a car bomb was coming north the following day. In response, the RUC set up a “proactive police operation” in Newry to protect the Banbridge corridor; the bomb crossed at Aughnacloy, County Tyrone.
Lead counsel Paul Greaney KC said some of the evidence would need further inquiries. Separately, the inquiry heard a statement from the army officer who took a warning call to Finner Army Camp in County Donegal the day before the bombing. The officer said the call, in which the caller said “Omagh Omagh Omagh”, was dismissed as a prank call and its content was not escalated to the Gardaí or Northern Ireland security services. The inquiry’s legal team said it hoped to return to the issue at a later stage.
Sir Ronnie Flanagan, who was chief constable of the RUC and later the PSNI, gave evidence on Monday. He said he had a "direct and keen" involvement in the investigation but admitted he was unaware of its winding down six weeks after the bombing, nor of a further reduction in resources two months later. He also said he was unaware of challenges in the relationship between the RUC and the Gardaí.
Sir Ronnie denied telling Baroness Nuala O’Loan that publication of her critical report “would destroy the peace process”. He said he never felt that and would never have said it. He described his own public response to the report as “crass and insensitive” and apologised for his response, saying he was ashamed if he had caused hurt to similarly affected families.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The Omagh bombing was the deadliest single attack of the Troubles, and the inquiry is examining whether it could have been prevented.
- Revelations about warnings not being heeded raise questions about police and intelligence failures.
- The lack of prosecutions for the bombing remains a source of deep regret for victims' families.
Background
The Omagh bombing occurred on 15 August 1998, when a car bomb exploded in the town centre, killing 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins. It was claimed by the Real IRA. The current inquiry is examining the actions of the police and security services before and after the bombing.
Key Perspectives
Sir Ronnie Flanagan: Expressed deep regret that no one has been brought to justice, and apologised for his "crass" remarks after the police ombudsman's report. He denied telling Baroness O'Loan that her report would destroy the peace process.
Baroness Nuala O'Loan: In her evidence, she said Sir Ronnie told her the report would destroy the peace process.
The inquiry's legal team: Said the warning call to Finner Army Camp gives rise to questions that cannot be answered in this chapter, and has written to the Irish government for further information.
What to Watch
- The inquiry continues this week with evidence from retired chief superintendent Norman Baxter.
- Further information may come from the Irish government regarding the handling of the warning call.
- The inquiry may examine why the proactive police operation was focused on Newry when the bomb crossed at Aughnacloy.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe inquiry heard that gardaí warned the RUC a car bomb was to cross the border the day before the Omagh bombing.BBC Northern Ireland: “The Omagh Bombing Inquiry has heard that the gardaí (Irish police) warned the RUC that a car bomb was to cross the border the day before the atrocity.”
- SupportedThe bombing killed 29 people.BBC Northern Ireland: “the day the Omagh bomb exploded killing 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins.”
- SupportedSir Ronnie Flanagan said the failure to bring those responsible to justice was a source of deep regret to him.BBC Northern Ireland: “He said the fact that the people responsible for the bombing have not been brought to justice is a "source of the most deep regret to me".”
- SupportedFlanagan apologised for his response to the ombudsman report, describing it as “crass”.BBC Northern Ireland: “He also apologised for his "crass" response to the Ombudsman's report in an interview after its publication. "I regretted it instantly. It was crass and insensitive”
- SupportedAt a police meeting on 14 August 1998, a regional special branch officer raised an urgent warning that gardaí believed a car bomb was coming north the following day.BBC Northern Ireland: “On the 14 August 1998, during a police meeting, the regional head of special branch South interrupted with an "urgent" issue. The officer said that the Gardaí "believed a car bomb was coming north the following day"”
- SupportedThe RUC set up a proactive operation in Newry to protect the Banbridge corridor.BBC Northern Ireland: “The inquiry heard that the evidence from Baxter will describe how "a proactive police operation" was set up in Newry to "protect the Banbridge corridor".”
- SupportedThe bomb crossed into Northern Ireland at Aughnacloy in County Tyrone.BBC Northern Ireland: “The Omagh bomb crossed over from the Republic into Northern Ireland at Aughnacloy in County Tyrone.”
- SupportedThe caller to Finner Army Camp said “Omagh Omagh Omagh”.BBC Northern Ireland: “Previously, hard evidence said that the caller, using a public phone at a bar in Bundoran, said "Omagh Omagh Omagh".”
- SupportedThe Finner warning call was dismissed as a prank call, and its content was not escalated to the Gardaí or Northern Ireland security services.BBC Northern Ireland: “In it he said it was dismissed as a "prank call" and the content of the call wasn't escalated to An Garda Síochána or the Northern Ireland security services.”
- SupportedThe inquiry’s legal team said it hoped to return to the Finner call issue at a later stage.BBC Northern Ireland: “He said that the inquiry's legal team had written to the Irish Government for further information in relation to this and it hopes to return to the issue in a later stage.”
- SupportedFlanagan said he was unaware that the investigation was wound down six weeks after the bombing and of a further resource reduction two months later.BBC Northern Ireland: “He said he had a "direct and keen" involvement in the investigation but admitted that he was unaware of the winding down of the investigation 6 weeks after the bombing. Sir Ronnie added that he did not know of a further reduction in resources two months later.”
- SupportedFlanagan denied telling Baroness Nuala O’Loan that publication of her report “would destroy the peace process”.BBC Northern Ireland: “During her evidence Baroness O'Loan said that Sir Ronnie had told her that the publication of the report "would destroy the peace process". On Monday he denied ever saying that.”