The first public hearing of the Omagh bombing public inquiry is taking place today. The inquiry was established to determine whether or not the bombing, which killed 29 people including a woman who was expecting twins, could have been prevented by taking additional steps. The Real IRA was responsible for the attack in August of 1998, which is the largest single atrocity of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The current hearings will deal with procedural issues and no evidence or witnesses will be heard until next year.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was killed in the attack, described the inquiry as “the beginning of the end.“ The process has taken an “unbelievably long time” to arrive, but Gallagher is optimistic that the inquiry will bring about truth and a sense of justice: “As a bereaved parent, I will be happy in the knowledge that I have done everything that I could to try and bring justice and truth.”
The independent inquiry has two main goals: to establish whether security measures were sufficient to prevent the bombing, and to examine the intelligence that was available. The inquiry does not have the power to identify individuals responsible. Although the attack took place in Northern Ireland, it was mounted from the Republic of Ireland. The Irish government has promised to help the inquiry, but has rejected calls for a separate or joint public inquiry.
The South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF), a group that assists victims of the bombing, has criticized Dublin’s stance. Its director, Kenny Donaldson, has argued that the Irish government could pass legislation to empower the inquiry to hold sessions in Dublin and to compel key individuals to give evidence and produce documents. Without this authority, Mr. Donaldson has argued, the inquiry may not achieve “an honourable and just outcome.”
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