Breaking News: Irish Govt reaches deal to share files with Omagh Inquiry into 1998 RIRA bomb atrocity
Ireland agrees co-operation deal with bombing inquiry
Julian O'Neill, BBC News NI crime and justice correspondent
Twenty-nine people, including a woman expecting twins, died in the Omagh bombing
The Irish government has agreed a co-operation arrangement with the Omagh Bombing Inquiry.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which had been expected, was signed off at a cabinet meeting in Dublin.
Twenty-nine people, including a woman expecting twins, died in the 1998 Real IRA attack, which was carried out from the Irish Republic.
The MoU will allow the inquiry access to material held by the Irish government.
In their words: Omagh families describe love and loss
The inquiry secretary Sam Hartley welcomed the agreement.
"This formal agreement marks a significant step forward in allowing the inquiry access to material, information and assistance from the government and agencies in Ireland," he said.
"Agreements of this nature are not commonplace in inquiries.
"On behalf of the inquiry, I express my gratitude to the government of Ireland for its repeated commitment to assist the inquiry."
Some victims' relatives, however, had wanted Dublin to establish a parallel inquiry in its own jurisdiction.
hey believe it is the only way to ensure full disclosure of information and compel witnesses based in Ireland to provide evidence.
What have the Omagh families said?
Speaking to the BBC's Evening Extra programme, Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden died in the bombing, welcomed the Irish government engagement.
"But we need more detail and we need to know in practical terms how this is going to work out," he said.
That the Irish government did not meet the Omagh families while working on the MoU, Mr Gallagher said, was "a huge opportunity missed", adding there are a number of areas within the memorandum that gave cause for concern.
Those concerns, he said, include whether witnesses would give evidence under oath and in which jurisdiction witnesses would give their evidence.
Further detail, Mr Gallagher said, is also needed on how the evidence of gardaí (Irish police) and "intelligence witnesses" will be managed.
He said families should now meet the Irish government to talk through some of those issues.
PA Media Michael Gallagher has grey hair and is wearing metal-framed glasses. He is wearing a navy overcoat, grey scarf, red gilet and a shirt and jumper.PA Media
Michael Gallagher's 21-year-old son Aiden died in the attack
“The most important thing is that the most relevant documents are retrieved from the Irish government… and the people who complete the relevancy test is the inquiry, not the people who possess or own the documents."
Mr Gallagher took the legal challenge that resulted in the UK Inquiry.
A solicitor, speaking on behalf of the Omagh bereaved families, said they need time to consider the complex and important agreement.
"In considering the document the families will be very much focusing on ensuring that the providing of materials is done in a manner which is transparent, open to scrutiny and sufficiently independent," he said.
He said the families emphasise that the "determination of the relevancy of materials must be made by the independent inquiry, free from any government interference or overriding objections".
Kenny Donaldson from the group SEFF said he would be considering the contents of the MoU with the bereaved families and injured that his group provides support to.
However he added that the MoU "falls short of what we have been signalling needed to happen; either the establishment of a parallel inquiry or empowering the current Inquiry to have rights to sit in a Dublin-based court and to call upon whom it deems it needs to hear from; exercising full compellability rights".
What have the Irish and UK governments said?
Irish Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan said the MoU was "an important step forward".
"The agreement provides transparency in relation to how the (Irish) government will fulfil its commitment and provides a clear framework to guide departments and their agencies who may hold materials potentially relevant to the work of the Inquiry," the minister said.
The memorandum, Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris said, is "a key step in delivering" the Dublin government's previous commitment to addressing the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
The Irish government, Harris said, "will continue to support the work of the Inquiry to ensure that victims are afforded the truth and justice that they deserve."
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said the MoU was a "very positive step", adding it will "help enable the independent Inquiry to do its job and provide answers for families".
He said the Omagh bomb had caused "immense pain and suffering to the many families who lost loved ones and to those who were injured. They will always be in our thoughts."
What was the Omagh bomb?
The bomb that devastated Omagh town centre in August 1998 was the biggest single atrocity in the history of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
It came less than three months after the people of Northern Ireland had voted yes to the Good Friday Agreement.
Who carried out the Omagh bombing?
Three days after the attack, the Real IRA released a statement claiming responsibility for the explosion.
It apologised to "civilian" victims and said its targets had been commercial.
Almost 27 years on, no-one has been convicted of carrying out the murders by a criminal court.
In 2009, a judge ruled that four men - Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly were all liable for the Omagh bomb.
The four men were ordered to pay a total of £1.6m in damages to the relatives, but appeals against the ruling delayed the compensation process.
A fifth man, Seamus McKenna, was acquitted in the civil action and later died in a roofing accident in 2013.
The public inquiry
After years of campaigning by relatives, the public inquiry was established to examine if the Real IRA attack could have been prevented by UK authorities.
This phase of the inquiry was to hear powerful individual testimonies from relatives who lost loved ones in the explosion.
The bombers planned and launched the attack from the Republic of Ireland and the Irish government has promised to co-operate with the inquiry.
However, the victims' relatives wanted the Irish government to order its own separate public inquiry.
Dublin previously indicated there was no new evidence to merit such a move.
On Wednesday Mr Greaney said members of the inquiry team had met officials from the Irish government on several occasions, most recently on 5 February.
He said it was their belief that the outstanding issues over disclosing information had narrowed.
He said they were waiting for a substantive response but it was understood a memorandum would be signed in March subject to the approval of the Irish government
The inquiry cannot compel anyone from outside the UK to give evidence.
'Significant blind spot'
Analysis: Julian O'Neill BBC News NI crime and justice correspondent
The Irish government has always promised full cooperation with what is a UK statutory public inquiry and they would see this memorandum of understanding as copper fastening that.
The big question that emerges from this is will it deliver all that is required and expected, because many victims' relatives had wanted Dublin to establish its own parallel inquiry in its own jurisdiction.
I think people will want to be satisfied that this memorandum will fully deliver all that is required. At this moment, there may well be a question mark over that.
Right from the outset Ireland has been resistant to its own parallel inquiry. This was a terrorist attack conceived and mounted from the Republic of Ireland.
Some victims relatives would be concerned a UK inquiry will not get to the full truth if there is this significant blind spot.
People will want to digest this, see how it works in practice, but based on what has
Irish Government to Share Garda Intelligence on Omagh
Senan Molony, Irish Independent, April 15th, 2025
The Irish Government has reached a deal to share Garda intelligence and files on the Omagh bombing in the North with the dedicated Inquiry into the 1998 atrocity.
The August 1998 bombing claimed the lives of 29 people.
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Chairman of the Inquiry, Lord Alan Turnbull.
The agreement relates to the disclosure of materials to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, which was established by the UK Government in February 2024 to investigate whether the bombing could have been prevented.
It will also allow persons resident in the South, including members or ex-members of the Gardaí and Defence Forces, such as military intelligence officers, to give evidence to the Northern inquiry.
Family members of the victims in the worst incident of The Troubles had complained that it would be hamstrung without equivalent action South of the border.
The agreement reflects the Government’s decision in July 2024 to assist the Inquiry “to the extent that is permissible under the Constitution and laws.”
‘Signing of this agreement is in the best interests of the victims’ families and survivors.’
Minister O’Callaghan said: “The signing of this agreement with the Chairman of the Inquiry is an important step forward in delivering on the Government’s commitment, and is in the best interests of the victims’ families and survivors.”
He said it had been about “finding a means of navigating the legal complexities in the relationship between Ireland, as a sovereign state, and an inquiry established under the laws of another sovereign state.”
He added: “The agreement provides transparency in relation to how the Government will fulfil its commitment and provides a clear framework to guide Departments and their agencies who may hold materials potentially relevant to the work of the Inquiry.
“My Department is already managing requests for materials from the Inquiry and engaging with relevant agencies, including An Garda Síochána.”
The need for any further action to be taken by the Government will be kept under review, he added — even at the conclusion of the Inquiry and its findings.
‘Addressing legacy of Troubles is fundamental to securing peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland’
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Harris, said: “Addressing the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland is fundamental to securing peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland.
“The signature today of the MOU with the Omagh Bombing Inquiry is a key step in delivering on that commitment. The Government will continue to support the work of the Inquiry to ensure that victims are afforded the truth and justice that they deserve.”
The Programme for Government states that it will “play our full part in legacy processes… including facilitating and supporting the Omagh Inquiry.”
The memorandum sets out the working arrangements that will apply between the Inquiry and the Minister on the lawful disclosure of materials from Government Departments and their agencies to the Inquiry to assist it in carrying out its terms of reference.
It also addresses the onward disclosure of those materials and their destruction or retention at the conclusion of the work of the Inquiry.
Central Point of contact established
Importantly, a central point of contact has been established in the Department of Justice to receive and manage all requests for materials from the Inquiry.
The Department and the Inquiry will maintain regular contact to support the operation of the new deal. Minister O’Callaghan said he would continue to engage with the Inquiry to find “solutions consistent with Irish law to fulfil the Government’s commitment to assist.”
This includes the giving of oral testimony for the purposes of the Inquiry.
And the Government is making it clear that, should it be necessary to bring forward legislation to support this assistance to the Inquiry, then this will be done.
Omagh bombing inquiry: State reaches deal clearing way for information to be shared
Memorandum sets out arrangements for ‘lawful disclosure of material from government departments’
Mark Hennessy, Common Ground, Irish Times, April 15th, 2025
The Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, has reached an agreement with the head of the Omagh bombing inquiry, Lord Turnbull, that will clear the way for the State to provide information and materials to the investigation into the 1998 atrocity.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) sets out working arrangements that will cover “the lawful disclosure of materials from government departments” in the Republic, and their agencies, according to a statement from the Department of Justice on Tuesday afternoon.
The agreement with the Scottish lawyer overseeing the inquiry, Lord Turnbull, also covers “the onward disclosure of those materials and their destruction or retention at the conclusion of the work of the inquiry”.
The Inquiry does not have the power to compel the disclosure of materials from the State, but if the Minister cannot comply with a written request from the Inquiry, he must “respond in writing detailing the reasons why he is not able to comply.”
Further discussions on taking evidence
The agreement does not cover the taking of evidence from witnesses from the Republic of Ireland, but it is understood the Inquiry will continue to discuss this with Dublin and this could form the basis of a subsequent MoU.
The Irish Times understands that a number of retired senior Garda officers, who held significant positions at the time of the Omagh bomb in 1998, were given clear legal advice that they should not give oral evidence to the inquiry if called.
A total of 31 people, including unborn twins, died and hundreds were injured when a car bomb planted by the dissident republican group the Real IRA exploded in the centre of Omagh on August 15th 1998.
The Government “will continue to engage with the inquiry to find solutions consistent with Irish law to fulfil the Government’s commitment to assisting the inquiry,” the document said.
“The signing of this agreement with the chairman of the inquiry is an important step forward in delivering on the Government’s commitment to facilitating and supporting the work of the inquiry. That is in the best interests of the victims’ families and survivors,” said Mr O’Callaghan, who brought the agreement to the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday as an unscheduled item, a so-called “under arm” item.
Requests for information
The Department of Justice is already dealing with requests for information from the inquiry team alongside other agencies in the Republic, including An Garda Siochána. Further changes, if necessary, will be kept “under review”, the Minister said.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris said: “Addressing the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland is fundamental to securing peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland.”
The Secretary to the Inquiry, Sam Hartley, said the formal agreement with the Irish Government “marks a significant step forward in allowing the Inquiry access to material, information and assistance from the Government and agencies in Ireland.
“Agreements of this nature are not commonplace in inquiries,” he said, adding that he wanted to express his “gratitude” for the Government’s “repeated commitment to assist the Inquiry.”
The DUP leader, Gavin Robinson, repeated his call for a “full, independent inquiry” into the Omagh bombing to be held south of the Border, saying that what had been agreed “falls well short of what is required.
“This arrangement is a contortion of state control masquerading as co-operation,” he said. “It provides no statutory powers, no ability to compel witnesses and no guarantee of full disclosure.”
The level of co-operation on offer from Dublin towards the inquiry has been a lingering sore, with long-standing complaints from the families of those who were killed by the Real IRA on that day, amid accusations that mistakes were made by both the gardaí and British intelligence services.
Role of MI5
The inquiry was set by the UK government on February 21st, 2024 to investigate whether the bombing could have been prevented by the UK’s own authorities, most especially its domestic intelligence arm, MI5.
The families of the Omagh victims met Micheál Martin two years ago when he was tánasite , said Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden (21) was killed in the bomb.
“We told them that we would have preferred that there was an inquiry south of the border, an Irish Government inquiry,” he said.
He said they understood that there would be sensitivities in Dublin about senior gardaí involved in intelligence work giving evidence to a British-run inquiry, on national security grounds, and therefore had suggested parallel inquiries.
“But [Mr Martin] was very much against that. He felt that one inquiry would suffice, and he assured us that there would be full co-operation, but we just couldn’t understand how that would work,” Mr Gallagher told The Irish Times earlier on Tuesday.
Irish and British intelligence services had a deep knowledge of the people involved in the Omagh bombing because all of those involved, he said, had taken part in a succession of bombings.
“This bomb was planned, prepared and delivered from the Republic. The bombers spent less than 40 minutes in Northern Ireland, and returned to the Republic. On that basis, 80 per cent of the evidential opportunities lie within the Republic,” he said.
However, the man responsible for stealing the car that was used in the Omagh bomb was never charged even with the theft of the car by the Irish authorities, even though his identity is known, said Mr Gallagher.
Omagh Bombing Inquiry reaches agreement with Irish Government over cooperation
By Rebecca Black, PA, Irish News, April 15th, 2025
Agreement has been reached between the Omagh Bombing Inquiry and the Irish Government over cooperation.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) comes ahead of the resumption of public hearings in the inquiry which is probing whether the Real IRA bomb attack in 1998 could have been prevented.
The attack, which killed 29 people including a woman who was pregnant with twins, is the worst single atrocity in the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
The MoU is to allow the inquiry chairman and members of his team to access to material held by the Irish administration, and has been described as a “significant step”.
It outlines the arrangements for the provision of information and materials from the Irish Government and its agencies to the inquiry, with a central point of contact to be established in the Department of Justice.
The MoU also outlines the process of disclosure materials to the inquiry’s core participants.
In a statement the inquiry said it will “continue to discuss further cooperation with the Government of Ireland, such as taking evidence from witnesses from the Republic of Ireland”.
“This formal agreement between the inquiry and the Government of Ireland marks a significant step forward in allowing the Inquiry access to material, information and assistance from the Government and agencies in Ireland,” he said.
“Agreements of this nature are not commonplace in inquiries. On behalf of the Inquiry, I express my gratitude to the Government of Ireland for its repeated commitment to assist the Inquiry.”
Ireland had been under pressure to establish its own public inquiry into the 1998 outrage.
Dublin has said it will fully co-operate with the UK inquiry into the bombing, which is operating out of Omagh, but stopped short of committing to a separate public inquiry.
All those who were killed were remembered during commemorative hearings at the inquiry earlier this year, and evidence was also heard from those injured and emergency workers who responded.
The next phase of public hearings, due to start from June, will hear from core participants, including the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and former chief constable Ronnie Flanagan.
Comment
Great news for all those who care about full disclosure and the exposition of all of the known facts.
Mike Jennings
