Families of Omagh victims say next stage of public inquiry will be ‘pivotal’

Relatives of Omagh bomb victims have said the next phase of hearings at a public inquiry will be “pivotal”.

The Omagh Bombing Inquiry will begin evidential hearings on Monday in Belfast.

The hearings, which have been delayed for six months, will centre on the period before and after the bombing and will examine how it was carried out and who was responsible.

The Real IRA bomb in the Co Tyrone town in August 1998 killed 29 people, including a woman who was pregnant with twins, in the worst single atrocity in the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Police officers and firefighters inspecting the damage caused by the Omagh bomb (Paul McErlane/PA)

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The Omagh Bombing Inquiry, chaired by Lord Turnbull, was set up by the previous government to examine whether the explosion could have been prevented by the UK authorities.

Last year, the inquiry heard personal statements from those affected by the massacre.

Chapter three will explore what can be established based on information including construction of the bomb, warning calls, claims of responsibility, arrests and subsequent court proceedings.

Later this week the inquiry is expected to hear a pre-recorded witness statement from a senior Garda officer about the theft of the car used in the explosion.

The vehicle was stolen in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, two days before the atrocity.

Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Aiden in the Omagh bombing (Liam McBurney/PA)

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Speaking ahead of the hearing, Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was among those killed in the dissident attack, said: “I think it is important that we do get into the nitty-gritty of what happened in the lead-up to Omagh, particularly in the last few days.

“I think it is going to be difficult but hugely important.

“This was a cross-border crime and most of the evidential opportunities lie within the Republic.

“We welcome the fact that the gardaí are engaging and co-operating with the inquiry.

“We just hope in the end we will get truth and dignity out of this process.”

Claire Hayes, sister of Alan Radford who was killed in the bombing (Liam McBurney/PA)

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Claire Hayes, whose brother Alan Radford was killed in the bomb, said the latest hearings had been a “long time coming”.

She said: “This chapter is a pivotal point in the inquiry process.”

Ms Hayes added: “We are now 28 years past the bomb and there has been very little engagement from the south of Ireland.