NEWS STORY : Northern Ireland Secretary Orders Inquiry into Omagh Bombing
STORY
Chris Heaton-Harris, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, has ordered an inquiry into the Omagh bombing on 15 August 1998. 29 people lost their lives in the attack in the Northern Ireland town, with 220 being injured in the bombing. The bombing was carried out by the Real IRA, a dissident group that opposed the Good Friday Agreement and was opposed to the Northern Ireland peace process. The attack was widely condemned by political leaders and the public, and it led to increased cooperation between the Irish and British governments in their efforts to combat terrorism. The Omagh bombing remains one of the deadliest acts of terrorism in Northern Ireland’s history.
Heaton-Harris said:
“The Omagh bomb was a horrific terrorist atrocity committed by the Real IRA, which caused untold damage to the families of those who were tragically killed and injured. Its impact was felt not just in Northern Ireland, but across the world.
Having carefully considered the judgment of the High Court, I believe that an independent statutory inquiry is the most appropriate form of further investigation to address the grounds identified by the Court.
I would like to thank the victims and survivors and all those affected by the Omagh bomb for their patience whilst I have reflected on the judgment and taken into account a range of sensitive, complex and technical factors”.
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