A collaboration agreement has been reached between the Irish government and the Omagh Bombing Inquiry. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was approved during a Dublin cabinet meeting, as anticipated. The 1998 Real IRA attack, launched from the Irish Republic, resulted in the deaths of twenty-nine individuals, including a pregnant woman expecting twins. This MoU will enable the inquiry to access information held by the Irish government.
Secretary of the inquiry, Sam Hartley, expressed his satisfaction with the agreement, emphasizing its importance in granting access to materials, information, and assistance from the government and agencies in Ireland. While such agreements are not typical in inquiries, he conveyed his appreciation for the commitment from the government of Ireland to support the inquiry. Certain relatives of the victims had pushed for Dublin to establish a parallel investigation within its jurisdiction to ensure complete disclosure of information and compel witnesses located in Ireland to provide evidence.
The devastating bomb attack in Omagh town center in August 1998 marked the largest singular atrocity during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Just weeks after the approval of the Good Friday Agreement, this distressing event shook the community. The Real IRA claimed responsibility for the bombing within days, stating that their intentions were initially directed towards commercial targets. Nearly three decades later, no criminal convictions have been made for the murders committed in Omagh. However, a civil court ruling in 2009 found four men liable for the attack and ordered them to pay £1.6m in damages to the victims’ families.
After persistent advocacy from the victims’ relatives, a public inquiry was established to investigate whether the Real IRA attack on Omagh could have been averted by UK authorities. This phase of the inquiry featured poignant testimonies from bereaved family members impacted by the tragedy. Despite the support pledged by the Irish government to assist the inquiry, the victims’ relatives demanded a separate public inquiry initiated by Dublin. While the Irish government previously stated that no new evidence warranted such a measure, discussions between the inquiry team and Irish officials have progressed towards resolving outstanding issues regarding the disclosure of information. Though the inquiry lacks the authority to compel individuals outside the UK to provide testimony, efforts are ongoing to collaborate effectively on this crucial investigation
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