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The lead detective in the investigation into the Omagh bombing has told an inquiry that the individual responsible for transporting the bomb was likely acting as a dual agent for both the UK’s MI5 and the Irish police, the gardaí. Retired Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter provided testimony to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, sharing his insights from the investigation. He explained, “As I went through the investigation it became very apparent that an individual was a Garda agent. It became apparent that in one operation there was a high potential that he was jointly handled by the security services.”
Baxter expressed his belief that intelligence agencies were aware of the bombers’ plans prior to the attack. The bombing, carried out by the Real IRA on 15 August 1998 in the County Tyrone town of Omagh, claimed 29 lives, including a pregnant woman carrying twins, marking it as the deadliest single incident in the history of the Troubles. Reflecting on the level of knowledge held by security services, Baxter stated, “I formed the view that Special Branch, the security service and GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters) knew prior to 15 August 1998 the identities of some if not all of the suspects involved in the Omagh bomb.” He acknowledged that while he could not fully assess how much information they possessed, it was certain they were aware.
The former detective criticized the Garda for actively attempting to conceal their involvement in the events leading to the bombing. He lamented that the Irish government, particularly the Ministry of Justice, failed to investigate Garda operations during that crucial period. Baxter described the overall investigation as an “absolute failure” and expressed his sadness over the leadership and governmental shortcomings. “It is very sad. I am very proud of my time in the police but this was a failure at leadership, a failure at government level. It just should not have happened,” he said, underscoring the gravity of what transpired.
Further allegations made by Baxter included claims that the Garda allowed bombs to be transported across the border into Northern Ireland and that the Irish government possessed intelligence indicating a bombing was imminent. He recounted how a bomb route test was conducted by two known dissidents the day before the attack. Highlighting evidence from his report, senior counsel to the inquiry Paul Greaney KC noted that a vehicle with the registration of Seamus McKenna’s car was recorded entering a military base in Lisburn in September 1997 and then again crossing the border at Aughnacloy on 14 August 1998, just one day before the bombing. Another vehicle linked to Liam Campbell also traveled this route, which Baxter suggested might have been a test run to gauge timing from the bomb’s origin to its target.
Baxter concluded that the Omagh bombers operated with “free rein” starting mid-1997 and that authorities missed numerous chances to disrupt their plans. He expressed a sense of guilt about possessing knowledge of the attack that he was unable to disclose to victims and their families. “I sat for many meetings with various victims’ groups and I listened to what they were saying about Garda collusion. I listened to what they were saying about Garda knowledge, but Irish government cover ups, and everything in the north and I knew they were telling the truth but legally I couldn’t tell them,” he said, adding his respect for the victims’ efforts to bring the matter before a legal forum where truth can now be revealed without fear of prosecution. “It’s such a tragedy that we are here when this could have been resolved.”
Baxter also revealed that members of the Provisional IRA were spotted with the bomb-laden vehicle at a GAA club in County Armagh the night before the explosion. Notably, the Provisional IRA was on a ceasefire at the time of the attack. He acknowledged this difficult fact for families but described it as the “major missed opportunity,” pointing out that senior republican figures observed the bomb but took no action to prevent the tragedy. The bomb was housed in a maroon Vauxhall Cavalier parked at the Cullaville GAA club, where “senior members of the republican movement” were present. According to Baxter, this represented the only clear chance to stop the bombing within Northern Ireland. He stressed, “If one of those people had have called the security forces and said X and X, both are identified, have a bomb because they knew there was a bomb, there was a discussion about the bomb, and they could have stopped it. They could have saved the lives in Omagh.” Additionally, Baxter acknowledged the possibility that there was more than one informer involved in the bombing plot. Despite the criticisms, he noted that the investigation itself was sufficiently resourced
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