Bomb families ‘deserve apology’ over legal case delay

THE families of those bereaved by the 1998 Omagh bomb “deserve an apology” because of the length of time the courts are taking to rule on a call for a Public Inquiry into the 1998 atrocity, according to the First Minister.

In 2013, Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was among 31 people killed in the Market Street bombing, took legal action against the British Government for failing to grant the Public Inquiry.

He contended that intelligence could have been drawn together to prevent the Real IRA atrocity on August 15, 1998.

Now, the First Minister and DUP leader, Arlene Foster, has said she thinks both Mr Gallagher and all of the Omagh victims deserve an apology as a result of the delay.

“I think it is really sad that they find themselves in a situation  where they have not been able to get answers,” the DUP leader said.

Her comments followed a meeting between herself and Mr Gallagher in the past week.

Mr Gallagher said the issue has been “dragged out” from day one.
“We are getting no younger. We want to do other things in life but we cannot move until we get answers,” he said.

“We support the intelligence service. We just want answers – why things did not happen in the way they should have happened in the lead-up to the Omagh bomb.”

In a statement, the Lord Chief Justice’s office said the delay was due to the “sensitive nature of the material involved in the case”.

“The documents which the judge has to consider are stored in a secured area which can only be accessed during restricted hours and not at weekends.

“The judge’s access to this material has to be scheduled around his workload in the High Court. He would like to reassure Mr Gallagher that he is reviewing this material thoroughly to ensure that he is taking into account all relevant evidence.”