Omagh bomb families hold ‘helpful’ meeting with Tanaiste

By Peter Kelly

CAMPAIGNING families bereaved by the Omagh bomb have spoken of their encouragement after meeting the Republic’s Foreign and Justice Ministers.

Members of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group were in Dublin last Wednesday to clarify the Irish government’s position on the upcoming Omagh bomb inquiry.

The Tyrone delegation included Michael Gallagher, Stanley McCombe and Cat Wilkinson, who each lost family members in the 1998 Market Street attack. The high level meeting was held in Iveagh House, home of the Department of Foreign Affairs in St Stephen’s Green. It was hosted by former Taoiseach – now current Tanaiste – Micheal Martin, alongside Justice Minister Helen McEntee and their officials.

It signals the first formal interaction that the Omagh families have had with Irish government figures in preparation for the approaching Inquiry. They have previously engaged with Micheal Martin as Taoiseach as part of the joint survivors’ coalition campaign against the British government’s proposed controversial Legacy Bill.

However, Omagh survivors strongly welcomed the announcement by Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris in February 2023 that an independent public inquiry would be held into circumstances surrounding the Omagh bomb, following two decades of campaigning.

Michael Gallagher said, “We have been awaiting this Dublin meeting since the announcement by Justice Horner [in 2021] that the Irish government must make an input into the inquiry.”

Mr Gallagher spoke of the hesitancy of the Dublin government to set out their position in these early stages.

He revealed, “Both Tanaiste Martin and Minister McEntee were reluctant to outline their approach until they know the Terms of Reference that will be announced soon in the North.”

It is understood that the next step will be the engagement of the Republic’s Attorney General who will advise the Irish government on its obligations and approach to the developing inquiry.