Omagh warnings bungled - relative

Irish intelligence agents played fast and loose with information about the Omagh bombing provided by a "Real IRA" mole and his…

Irish intelligence agents played fast and loose with information about the Omagh bombing provided by a "Real IRA" mole and his Garda handler, the relative of one who died in the explosion has claimed.

Mr Michael Gallagher, whose son, Aidan, died in the blast on August 15th, 1998, told The Irish Times last night "there was no doubt" in his mind that warnings about the attack were not properly handled.

Mr Gallagher asked: "How long can the Irish Government resist holding a public inquiry? If this was any other state in Europe the families would be allowed to have closure."

Speaking on behalf of the Omagh relatives, he added: "We will be contacting our three MEPs and we will also be contacting the Spanish embassy to bring it to their attention that in the Republic they are not co-operating with a major investigation into the deaths of 31 people, including two unborn children.

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"Two of these people are Spanish nationals and 11 other children were injured in the bomb. "

His comments follow reports at the weekend that Mr Paddy Dixon, the "Real IRA" agent who supplied information to the Garda, and Det Sgt John White, his handler, knew of plans to bomb Omagh.

The Observer newspaper further reported that transportation of the Omagh bomb was "allowed" by Irish authorities in order to preserve the identity of their agent who had helped thwart earlier "Real IRA" attacks in the North.

It also claimed that transcripts of a conversation between the two men proved the bombers were allowed to cross the Border 24 hours before the attack to protect Mr Dixon's credibility.

The transcripts also allege that there was a deal entered into by the Government at the time to drop charges against eight suspects held after the explosion. Mr Dixon has since had to flee Ireland and is now thought to be in continental Europe under an assumed identity.

Det Sgt White is one of the gardaí whose activities are being examined by the Morris tribunal.

A spokesman for the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, said he would make a statement to the Dáil "in the next few weeks" on a report investigating similar allegations last year.

The report was produced by a three-man committee, chaired by the former secretary to the government, Mr Dermot Nally.