Omagh familes to meet NI Policing Board

Omagh bomb survivors and relatives of those who died are to meet the Northern Ireland Policing Board tomorrow in the latest round…

Omagh bomb survivors and relatives of those who died are to meet the Northern Ireland Policing Board tomorrow in the latest round in the row over the investigation into the atrocity.

The discussions are due to start at 2 p.m. in the Silverbirch Hotel, Omagh, Co Tyrone, the same venue where the bereaved and injured met Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland to discuss the affair last Thursday.

Sir Ronnie has been under pressure since his force's watchdog, the Police Ombudsman Ms Nuala O'Loan, delivered a damning assessment of the inquiry.

The Policing Board, which also oversees the force, has yet to consider both Ms O'Loan's and Sir Ronnie's reports on the subject.

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The victims of the attack of August 15 1998, were dissatisfied with Sir Ronnie's explanation on Thursday.

Tonight Mr Michael Gallagher, who lost his son, Adrian, in the blast said the first question would be whether the board's power extended to demanding action of Sir Ronnie.

He said: "We want to know whether the Policing Board has the power to ask or tell Sir Ronnie that he should implement the recommendations as outlined by Nuala O'Loan's report.

"We will be asking them if they have the power to ask for a public inquiry into Omagh.

"We feel unhappy that we have only been given summarised versions of Nuala O'Loan's report and the chief constable's report. That information should be public information."

PA