A Government spokesman has tonight strenuously denied allegations made in a Channel 4 news programme that a ceasefire deal was struck by the Irish Government with the Real IRA. The substance of the allegation, made tonight in a Channel 4 news programme, is that an agreement not to "harass" Real IRA members was made in exchange for a ceasefire.
Tonight, however, a Government spokesman said there was "absolutely and utterly no foundation" to theallegations.
It was also pointed out that one person hadbeen convicted and sentenced in the Republic in connection with the Omaghbombing, that 30 Real IRA personnel were currently serving jail terms and thatfiles were with the Irish Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to anumber of other members of that organisation.
The programme repeated charges about the extent of possibly vital information in thehands of the Gardaí ahead of the 1998 bomb attack on Omagh when 29 people died and more than 200 were injured.
According to tonight's programme, the charges originated from John White,detectivesergeant in theGarda Siochana who is currently suspended by the force.
Co-incidentally, it was also confirmed tonight that Northern Ireland PoliceOmbudsman Nuala O'Loan has had talks in Dublin with members of a commission setup by the Government specifically to investigate the Garda Siochanacontribution to inquiries into the Omagh bombing.
She presented documents to the commission in relation to information that hadcome to light as a result of investigations made by her team - and also believedto centre on claims made by John White.
The suspended officer - who could not appear in tonight's Channel 4 filmedreport because he still a serving Garda - has claimed that in 1998 he wasproviding his superiors with high-grade information supplied by a Real IRAinformer.
Mr White said that details provided by his source led to a number of Garda successesagainst the Real IRA, including the interception of a car bomb atDun Laoghaire ferry port in Co Dublin, in April 1998.
He also claimed that days before the Omagh bombing, information he receivedfrom this same source about a car being stolen for use in the North, was notpassed on to the Royal Ulster Constabulary by their counterparts on the southernside of the border.
The three-strong Dublin commission was established earlier this year after aconcerned Ms O'Loan brought the claims to the attention oftheMinister for ForeignAffairs,Brian Cowen TD.
The Garda Síochana tonight rejected the TV allegations that they hadinformation prior to the Omagh massacre as "totally unfounded."
In a statement the force said the Gardaí and the Police Service of NorthernIreland "had, and continue to have, an excellent workingprotocol in all areas of law enforcement, particularly in-so-far as intelligenceon criminal or terrorist activity is concerned.
"Any suggestion to the contrary is ludicrous.
"The allegations are without foundation and appear to emanate from amischievous source.
"The Commissioner (Garda chief Pat Byrne) is concerned that such unfoundedallegations will be a source to any relatives of those tragically killed orinjured in Omagh."
The Channel 4 report followed one on the same news programme last nightalleging that the police in Northern Ireland received four warnings of terroristattacks before the Omagh bomb outrage.
Only one person has been charged and convicted in connection with the bombing,despite widespread police investigations throughout Ireland.
The allegation of a deal was made in briefing document from Mr White that toldof the claimed arrangement "with a government minister," declaring that "inreturn for calling a ceasefire, no RIRA members would be harassed or receiveundue Garda attention."
The programme makers said they had seen documents showing that charges against peoplearrested after Omagh were "dropped on the orders of the state, without explanation."
The deal was also claimed to have been confirmed by Mr White's informant in acovert tape recording made in a car.
PA