The bomb attack of the Real IRA in Omagh killed 29 and wounded more than 300 people.
The bomb exploded in the small town of Omagh in the North of Ireland in August 1998, only months
after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, an important step of the peace process.
Responsible for the bombing was the Real IRA, an Irish Republican splinter group, opposed to the
peace process.
The Real IRA had given a warning, but the police evacuated civilians into the wrong direction
into the bombing zone. Information now available shows, that the police "Special Branch" and
British secret service agencies had beforehand knowledge of the bombing and even monitored the bombers
on the day of the attack. Details can be found below:
>>>> 14.09.2008 BBC Panorama: Omagh bomb calls were monitored
Scandal about RUC handling of Omagh bombing: in addition to the Ombudsman's
report on ignoring warnings previous to the bombing an internal police
investigation showed that hundreds of investigation files has been
fabricated by the RUC:
Nuala O'Loan is Ombudsman and responsible for dealing with complaints against
the police. The creation of an Ombudsman's office was agreed in the Good
Friday Agreement. In autumn 2001 she released a report on the actions of the
police in connection with the Omagh bomb of the dissident republican
splinter group "Real IRA". The report contains severe accusations against
the Chief Constable and the special police unit "Special Branch". The
Special Branch has ignored warnings about the bomb coming from their own
agents. In the aftermath of the bombing witness reports vanished and
investigating policemen where actively stopped by the Special Branch.
Incredible enough unionist politicans and British officials of the NIO
(Northern Ireland Office) slammed the Ombudsman, tried to undermine her
credability and backed the Chief Constable Ronny Flanagan. Without success.
Flanaghan resigns from office end of March 2002.
>>>> 19.01.2002 The Guardian: "Police fabricated 375 files of Omagh investigation"
>>>> 06.01.2002 Former RUC officer:
"Special branch muddied probe"
>>>> 13.12.2001 Andersontown News: "WE SAY: A vital choice to make"
>>>> 12.12.2001 an analysis by Jim Gibney (Sinn Fein): "Surprise? What Surprise?"
>>>> 12.12.2001 Amnesty International demands an independent inquiry into the murder of William Stobie
>>>> 12.12.2001 Report of the Ombudswoman on Omagh: "Victims stunned and Chief Constable defiant"
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