The scope of the Omagh bombing inquests and the limits, if any, to be applied to cross-examination of witnesses will be argued out next Monday, it was decided yesterday.
Following interventions by several counsel, it was agreed that submissions would be heard on Monday on this matter, which has come to the fore after early cross-examination of RUC witnesses by lawyers representing the relatives of some victims of the bombing.
Questions put by some counsel have sought to elucidate RUC practice and policy on bomb warnings, code words and resource allocation, and other lawyers have raised objections to this.
Mrs Gemma Loughran, counsel for the coroner, told the hearing yesterday that it had been made known on behalf of the RUC Chief Constable "that an issue continues to trouble the Chief Constable in regard to the scope of the inquest".
Mr Ken Duncan, solicitor, representing the relatives of Debra-Ann Cartright, Fred and Brian White and Loraine Wilson, said that these families shared the misgivings expressed by counsel for the Chief Constable. He said they would deplore any attempt being made to use the proceedings as "a kind of witch-hunt" of the police personnel, who had tried to the best of their ability to prevent loss of life and property.
Mr Duncan said that last week a police officer of 26 years' standing, who had given his evidence without equivocation or prevarication, had been "reminded quite unnecessarily that he was under oath".
Mr Stephen Ritchie, counsel for the Chief Constable, said that he would query what appeared to be a widening of the scope of the proceedings. He said it had to be determined whether a line of questioning which was "clearly designed to impugn police officers" was permissible under the law.
The matter was deferred until Monday, to allow counsel to submit skeleton arguments on their positions.