The inaugural public hearing concerning the long-awaited public examination into the Omagh bombing is due to commence on the upcoming Tuesday. The scrutiny of this tragedy, presided over by Lord Turnbull, will delve into whether the UK authorities could have pre-emptively avoided this horrific incident. The bomb attack by the Real IRA, which brought havoc on Co Tyrone town on August 15th, 1998, resulted in the death of 29 persons, inclusive of a female carrying twins.
A number of family members who lost their loved ones have been advocating for the initiation of open public scrutiny to probe alleged lapses in security for years. Aiden Gallagher’s father, Michael, conveyed that this will be the initial convergence of all grief-stricken families since the tragic incident in 1998. Moreover, this will include those who were visiting from Spain and were affected by the explosion.
The scrutiny, directed by the preceding Secretary of Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, last year, is targeting potential failures in security that led to the conviction by a High Court judge that the catastrophe might have been possible to avoid. This scrutiny took place as a corollary to a court verdict that pushed the UK government to erect a mode of investigation.
Despite being devoid of authority to request the Irish Government for their involvement in the situation, the judge gave his recommendation to relevant bodies in Dublin to construct their separate investigation, taking into account his decisions. Soon after, the Irish Government formally decided to give their cooperation to the scrutiny in the current month.
Those who managed to survive are also anticipated to assemble at Omagh’s Strule Arts Centre for the public hearing, which will feature an opening address by the chair and counsel for the chair, Paul Greaney KC. Statements of tribute and personal declarations are intended to be delivered during inquiry hearings planned for next January.