Irish Govt to agree memorandum of understanding with Omagh says Jim O’Callaghan, Justice Minister

Rebecca Black, Irish News and Belfast Telegraph, March 11th, 2025

THE Irish government expects to agree a memorandum of understanding with the Omagh Bombing Inquiry in the coming weeks, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has said.

The probe is examining whether the atrocity carried out by the Real IRA in the Co Tyrone town in August 1998 could have been prevented.

The bomb killed 29 people, including a woman who was pregnant with twins, in the worst single atrocity in the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

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 PSNI and former chief constable Ronnie Flanagan.

However, former RUC detective Drew Harris, who is now the Garda commissioner, said he has not been invited to give evidence.

Mr Harris, who along with Mr O’Callaghan was in Belfast yesterday for a cross-border crime conference, said: “I’ve had no communication to suggest that I’ll be called as a witness.

“I am the Garda commissioner, therefore, I am bound by the department of justice, and the minister has spoken in terms of the memorandum of understanding that is being worked through.

“That has to be set against the backdrop of the very clear comments made by the government in respect of support for the Omagh inquiry.

“Obviously, this is a situation that is going to evolve over the coming weeks.”

New legislation if needed

Mr O’Callaghan told media that he “listened very attentively” to the recent commemorative hearings, adding he had found it “extremely powerful just to hear the voices of the families and the victims giving their evidence”.

He restated the Irish government’s commitment to fully cooperating with the inquiry.

“We’re in the final stages of concluding a memorandum of understanding in respect of the provision of information to that inquiry,” he said.

“If new legislation is required, it will be enacted by the Houses of the Oireachtas. The taoiseach and the tánaiste are fully committed to that co-operation with the inquiry, and our assessment is that the best way to establish the truth as to what happened is for there to be one inquiry rather than two parallel inquiries.

“I suppose the objective behind people who are calling for an inquiry in the Republic is to ensure there is compellability and to ensure that information is provided.

“We are fully committed to ensuring that witnesses can give evidence before the Omagh inquiry in Northern Ireland, and that all relevant information is provided. So, because of that, I don’t see the necessity of having parallel inquiries, but it is something that we will keep under review.”

Pressed further on the memorandum of understanding, Mr O’Callaghan said there have been meetings between his officials and counsel for the inquiry.

“Memorandum of understanding drafts have been exchanged, I think we’ve just got further comments back from the inquiry in respect of what we’ve provided,” he said.

“So we’re in the process and I’m fairly confident that we will have an agreed memorandum of understanding in the coming weeks and certainly before the public hearings recommence in June.”

Powerful Testimony

Mr O'Callaghan said he had found it “extremely powerful just to hear the voices of the families and the victims giving their evidence”.

He restated Dublin's commitment to fully co-operate with the inquiry, adding: “We're in the final stages of concluding a memorandum of understanding in respect of the provision of information to that inquiry.

“If new legislation is required, it will be enacted by the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Taoiseach and the Tanaiste are fully committed to that co-operation with the inquiry, and our assessment is that the best way to establish the truth as to what happened is for there to be one inquiry rather than two parallel inquiries.”

Mr O'Callaghan said there have been meetings between his officials and counsel for the inquiry.

“Memorandum of understanding drafts have been exchanged. I think we've just got further comments back from the inquiry in respect of what we've provided,” he said.

“So, we're in the process, and I'm fairly confident that we will have an agreed memorandum of understanding in the coming weeks — and certainly before the public hearings recommence in June.”

Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long said it is important that people have full confidence that inquiries are able to access all relevant information, and that everyone with information is fully cooperative with it.

“I’m reassured by the fact that the Irish government have given that commitment and said that they will co-operate fully with the Omagh inquiry,” she said.

29 people killed in the Real IRA attack in Omagh, Co Tyrone in 1998

By Vincent Kearney, Northern Editor, RTE, Monday, March 10th, 2025

A decision by the Irish Government not to hold a parallel public inquiry into the 1998 Omagh bombing will be kept under review, the Minister for Justice has said.

Speaking during a visit to Belfast for a cross border organised crime conference, Jim O'Callaghan reiterated the view that he does not believe there is a necessity for a separate inquiry, but there was a suggestion that position could change.

Minister O'Callaghan also said Irish Government efforts to assist a UK inquiry into the dissident republican attack will include facilitating witnesses from the Republic being able to give evidence, as well as the sharing of materials.

Relatives of the 29 people killed in the Real IRA attack, survivors and their legal teams have all said there needs to be parallel inquiry in the Republic with the powers to compel witnesses and access to documents.

Minister O'Callaghan said the Irish Government is in the final stages of concluding a Memorandum of Understanding with the UK inquiry team in respect of the provision of information and repeated a commitment to co-operate fully with that inquiry.

"Our assessment is that the best way to establish the truth as to what happened is for there to be one inquiry rather than two parallel inquiries," he said.

"I know that the, I suppose, the objective behind people who are calling for an inquiry in the Republic is to ensure there is compellability and to ensure that information is provided.

"We are fully committed to ensuring that witnesses can give evidence before the Omagh inquiry in Northern Ireland and that all relevant information is provided. So because of that I don't see the necessity of having parallel inquiries, but it is something that we will keep under review."

Garda Commissioner not contacted

Speaking at a press conference at the same event, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said he has not been contacted by the UK inquiry team about being called as a witness.

The Commissioner was an RUC Chief Superintendent at the time of the attack and later rose through the ranks, finishing his policing career in Northern Ireland as Deputy Chief Constable of the PSNI.

Lawyers acting for relatives of those killed and injured in the bombing have said it is essential for the inquiry to have access to garda intelligence material about the attack and the ability to question relevant witnesses.

"I am the Garda Commissioner and therefore am bound by the Department of Justice and the Minister has just spoken in terms of the Memorandum of Understanding that's being worked through," he said.

"But that has to be set against the backdrop, the very clear comments made by the Government in respect of support for the Omagh inquiry, so obviously this is a situation that is going to evolve over the coming weeks."

Minister O'Callaghan said he believes the Memorandum of Understanding should be agreed before the Omagh inquiry resumes hearings in June.