Irish Government to share key information with Omagh bomb inquiry

THE Irish Government has signed a new agreement to help the Omagh Bombing Inquiry access vital information about the 1998 attack that killed 31 people, including unborn twins.

The deal sets out how Irish state agencies will share documents and cooperate with the Inquiry, which is investigating how the bombing happened and whether it could have been prevented.

It includes setting up a central contact in Ireland’s Department of Justice to handle information requests.

Inquiry secretary Sean Hartley welcomed the agreement, calling it a ‘significant step forward’ and thanking the Irish Government for its ongoing support.

The Memorandum of Understanding creates a formal process for how Irish authorities will respond to requests.

It has been published on the Omagh Bombing Inquiry website and has the purpose of providing a framework for cooperation between the participants to enable the Inquiry to receive Irish state materials.

The Inquiry’s chair, Lord Alan Turnbull, must submit any request in writing, and the Irish Justice Minister will work to ensure state bodies cooperate.

The agreement has been published on the Omagh Bombing Inquiry’s website.

It comes ahead of the next phase of the Inquiry in June, following emotional testimony from families, survivors and emergency responders.