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LAST UPDATE | 2 Feb 2023
NORTHERN IRELAND SECRETARY Chris Heaton-Harris has said he intends to establish an independent statutory inquiry into the 1998 Omagh bombing.
The dissident republican bomb exploded in the Co Tyrone town on 15 August, 1998 killing 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins. Hundreds more were injured.
Relatives of victims of the atrocity had been advised that Heaton-Harris would make a statement in the House of Commons today.
Speaking in the Commons, he said he had listened to the representations of the families affected by the atrocity and taken their varying perspectives into account alongside other factors, such as “the independence of any future investigation, the costs to the public purse and how best to allay wider public concern”.
“I have weighed these up against the clear findings set out by the court, which we must meet for any investigation to be effective and compliant with our international obligations, and which are at the core of my decision,” he said.
“I intend to establish an independent statutory inquiry into the Omagh bombing.”
In 2021, a High Court judge recommended that the UK Government should carry out a human rights-compliant investigation into alleged security failings in the lead-up to the attack.
Mr Justice Horner found that it was potentially plausible the attack could have been prevented.
His ruling came after a legal challenge by a bereaved family member against the Government’s refusal to hold a public inquiry.
The judge also recommended that the Irish Government establish its own investigation.
Heaton-Harris said he has informed Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden died in the bombing and who took the legal challenge that resulted in the judge’s direction in 2021, of the decision.
He said he has also informed members of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group and representatives of Families Moving On.
He said the inquiry “will focus on the four grounds, which the court held, as giving rise to plausible arguments that the bombing could have been prevented”.
He went on: “I know that this is a significant decision and I’m keen to explain now to the House why I believe it is also the most appropriate course of action.
“Firstly, the inquiry will allow us to meet our Article 2 procedural obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights as it will have powers of compulsion and be capable of compelling the production of documents and witnesses and subjecting their accounts to scrutiny.”
Heaton-Harris noted the 2008 review conducted by Peter Gibson did not have such statutory powers, meaning he had “no means of compelling witness testimony”.
He went on: “It’s important that any investigation has sufficient tools at its disposal to access all necessary evidence and materials.”
The Northern Ireland Secretary said it is not in his power to call for “a simultaneous Article 2 compliance investigation” in Ireland.
“The inquiry will involve the next of kin and will be open to public scrutiny where possible,” he continued.
“This will of course, need to be balanced against national security considerations. And it’s important to note that there will be some material, which will not be able to be examined in public. A final report will be published which will respond to each of the issues identified by the High Court.
“You may be aware that in his judgment, Justice Horner expressed a desire that a simultaneous Article 2 compliance investigation occur in Ireland.
He recognised that it was not in the court’s power to order a cross-border investigation and nor it is in my power as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to do so, but I remain in close contact with the Irish government on this issue.
Heaton-Harris had pledged to announce the UK Government’s response to the judgment early in the new year.
The Secretary of State travelled to Omagh in December to meet some of the bereaved families and visit the site of the bombing and a nearby memorial garden.
In his 2021 judgment, Justice Horner directed that a fresh investigation should take place into the Real IRA atrocity.
He said any probe should examine the failure to act on an informer tip-off or use intelligence and surveillance evidence about previous terror attacks.
The judge said a new investigation should also examine whether a politically motivated “de-escalation” of the security approach to dissident republicans in the months before the 1998 attack resulted in crucial intelligence not being acted upon.
Mr Justice Horner said he was not going to order specifically that the UK probe into the Omagh bomb takes the form of a public inquiry, explaining he did not want to be “prescriptive” about the methodology.
While having no jurisdiction to order the Irish Government to act on the matter, the judge also urged authorities there to establish their own probe in light of his findings.
The announcement of the inquiry has been welcomed by the families of the Omagh bomb victims, including Michael Gallagher.
“The Secretary of State has given us everything that we have asked for, and we’re very appreciative of that,” he said.
“It’s still sinking in, to be honest, I think it’s going to be a long time to come to terms with the fact that we’re going to hopefully get the answers that we need and we can move on.”
Gallagher said the probe announced did amount to a full public inquiry.
“My understanding is that it is a public inquiry, it’s a judicial inquiry with powers of investigation and that’s exactly what we wanted,” he said.
“This is not a case of deflecting the blame from those who are responsible – that was the criminal terrorists who planned, prepared and delivered this bomb into Omagh. What we’re looking at is the failings of the people that are there to protect us.”
He said reliving the events of Omagh through the inquiry would be “difficult” and “painful” for the families, but added: “If we don’t have this process, for the rest of our lives we’re going to be wondering ‘what if’.”
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan welcomed the announcement and said he hoped it would prompt a similar move from the Irish Government.
“The events of 15th August 1998 left an indelible mark on the people of Omagh whose lives were shattered and unalterably changed by an act of unspeakable evil in this town,” McCrossan said.
“The horrifying attack on this community was designed to destroy the town and divide our people – those behind it have failed.
“The incredible fortitude of the people of Omagh has been inspiring. They should never have had to fight so hard or for so long for a proper inquiry to determine the truth about what happened that day. I am delighted for the families that they now have a path to the truth which is what so many of them have been campaigning for.
I hope that this announcement will spur similar action from the Irish Government.
The High Court judgment in 2021 clearly outlined the need for a cooperative investigation given the cross border nature of this atrocity and I was pleased to receive confirmation from former Taoiseach Micheál Martin that the Irish Government would review its approach to the case late last year.
“The people of Omagh deserve answers and I hope that this announcement brings that closer.”
Irish government
In a statement this afternoon, Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin welcomed the announcement of the inquiry.
“What happened in Omagh was a heinous attack, carried out by people with no respect for the lives of others or for democracy on this island. My thoughts are with the families of those murdered and with the survivors,” Martin said.
“The announcement by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris is welcome. I spoke with him last evening and he confirmed his intention to make today’s statement to me.
“We now await further detail from the UK Government, in particular on the Terms of Reference for their inquiry. I look forward to receiving that detail and then consulting with my Cabinet colleagues, in particular the Minister for Justice, about the next steps.”
Martin added that while welcoming the announcement, it also serves as a reminder “of the need to deal effectively with the legacy of the past, in a manner which advances the fundamental goal of reconciliation”.
But speaking on BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster today, Michael Gallagher said: “I would say that the Irish government is running away from their responsibilities here, they need to engage.”
Gallagher said that he was “hugely disappointed” after the Taoiseach did not respond to an invitation handed over in person a year ago to meet the Omagh bomb families to discuss the judgment.
We have not to this date had any communication from the Taoiseach.
He added: “We’re not vindictive. The British government is not my enemy, the Irish government is not my enemy, we support the police on both sides of the border. We just need a thorough investigation to understand what happened.”
In a statement this afternoon, Justice Minister Simon Harris said the Irish government would discuss the UK inquiry today and consider what action it should take in response.
”What happened at Omagh was an unspeakable and brutal act of cruelty. The terrorists who carried it out had simply no sense of humanity and they displayed a complete and shocking disregard for life itself. It is they who carry responsibility for this brutal act,” Harris said.
“We will never forget those who lost their lives, those who were injured and the families whose suffering for their loved ones continues.”
He said the Government is “deeply conscious” of the enduring suffering and hardship that survivors of Troubles-related attacks bear and that it has always sought to acknowledge and address “the legitimate needs and expectations of victims’ families and survivors of Troubles-related attacks”.
“It is the case, of course, that a number of reviews/investigations have previously taken place in this jurisdiction with regard to Omagh,” he continued.
I will be discussing today’s announcement with my Government colleagues and we will, of course, consider what further action is required on our part in response to the UK Government’s decision to establish an Inquiry.
“I look forward to receiving further detail on the proposed UK Inquiry as it becomes available.”
Speaking this morning, Harris had said the Irish Government would wait to see the detail of the UK government’s announcement on the Omagh bomb before responding.
“Clearly what happened in Omagh was absolutely unspeakable, it was a brutal act of cruelty,” he told RTÉ Radio.
“Those who carried it out showed absolutely no humanity. They showed a complete, shocking disregard for life itself and it’s they who carry responsibility for the brutal act.”
Additional reporting from Jane Moore
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Maybe so but can we put that into context by comparing it to our other many, many taxes? Not to forget that we have one of the highest costs of living in the EU.
DEEEEEEEEERP
2 car taxes
@Eimer already the motor industry is crippled, many households need two cars to get to work or live efficiently.
@Adam I meant we pay two taxes on our cars in Ireland unlike other countries.
Salaries in Ireland are among the highest in the EU as is the minimum wage.
They have to be higher…to pay the taxes!!
Is Ireland now obliged to compare every aspect of our peoples lives to that of other EU Countries .
It’s easy for ass holes on massive wages to say put up taxes by 2% . Let them go shopping in aldi every week and struggle to pay their mortgage month after month and have to cancel their health insurance because its going up constantly . At this stage I would be better off on the dole as they would pay my mortgage interest , Esb , heating and so on and would have more disposable income per week. This country is a joke
Government promised not to increase income tax that’s funny. Dose USC property tax water rates not all come from your income ????
Think they’re classed as indirect tax
USC was reduced by this government for low income workers.
Think it was the last government
No it was this government Scott.
The link you posted Scott is to Fianna Fail’s last budget which saw the introduction of the USC. The first budget by this government removed many low income people from the USC net. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_budget,_2012
It really annoys me when we are compared to other contrries. We must be the only place to pay twice for services. If your sick your prsi should cover you but it doesn’t. 50 euro for a doctor, dentists aren’t covered and you need private insieance.
You get nothing for your property tax where as in the uk they get a lot of loocal services like bin collection. Again something else we have to pay for.
The ERSI had better think of something else.
Shut up!
The ESRI. A bunch of out of touch hippies.
Can these people not put 2+2 together higher taxes would lower demand in the domestic economy (which is on its knees at the moment) which would lead to job losses which would lead to less income tax gathered and more social protection payments being paid out, bunch of idiots!! It’s the typical Irish solution to a problem
Well said. Most people will tell you it’s not worth working these days because you become a tax slave, just become unemployed and let the state take care of everything. Most people think the tax hikes are over but there just being dressed up as stealth taxes.
They would be a lot higher if the likes of Google, Facebook and the rest payed anything over 1% .
One wonders were the ERSI comes up with it’s figures and if those doing the reports actually live in Ireland and get to experience the indirect taxes and cost of living.
So according to this article http://www.thejournal.ie/irish-people-pay-above-the-eu-average-for-bread-fruit-and-potatoes-964484-Jun2013/ we pay above average for food. Did the ERSI factor in the additional revenues paid to the state from VAT when they were doing their sums?
As Drummer would say, “I pulled it out of my arse”.
There are no financial experts in Ireland.
Esri ‘academics’ live in a Docklands bubble. In the countries mentioned many services are free or heavily subsidised.
3 classes or workers, yet only 2 bands or tax.. Someone is not paying their fair share that’s fur sure !!
What about all the stealth tax, Universal Social Charge etc, I wish they would not fluff information
A lot of other European countries have;
Cheaper medicines and cheaper/free GP care,
Better hospitals, cheaper or no charge,
No need for health insurance,
Truly free education,
No schoolbook racketeering,
No ‘voluntary’ donations,
Much cheaper food,
Much cheaper or totally free childcare,
Longer maternity leave and paternal leave,
Shorter working weeks,
No USC,
No VRT,
Cheaper and better waste disposal.
Have I missed any?
Motor Tax – built in to price of Fuel (which is still cheaper than here!)
That is about it!! This report is a government move to prepare us for more tax rises in the coming budget… nothing more nothing less… no one actually believes what the ESRI actual say… it a state sponsored mouth piece!
Niall excellent comment, these ERSI muppets have been predicting our economic recovery incorrectly since the end of 2008. I think i’ll apply for a job with them- i’ve no relevant qualifications, barely read the papers but feel my predictions on economic recovery would be more accurate, i’ll even work for nothing, sure all I would have to do is ask the government what they’d like me to write anyway…job done!
Lower Tax and Higher living expenses!!
Not surprised to see this starting already…..budget time soon guys, if we even got a fraction of the services these other countries get for their contribution…….ours goes to line the pockets of fat cats who can’t get a job doing anything else.
Yep, right on time. As soon as it looks like the new ‘deal’ cutting public service pay is going to be passed, the kite flying for hitting the private sector starts. (And yes, I know this will hit the public sector once again as well).
Divide and conquer 101.
The ESRI is a goverment funded organisation that is completely out of touch with reality
and should be dismantled.
There was a time when the ESRI told the government to stop instigating a property bubble as it would blow up in the face of the whole nation, yet they were ignored by politician and voter alike. They haven’t always been terrible at their job.
Four researchers how much of our tax did these muppets cost bring on the revolution
Typo alert
“The Department of Finance has estimated that a 2 per cent increase on the top rate of tax (i.e. from 41 per cent to 41 per cent)”
41% to 41% .. hmmmmmmmm
haha.. Typo alert rectified.. LOL , now I look stupid.. Muwhahahahahahahahaha
The Department of Doly mixture Finance… you would get better math from 5 year olds… totally discredited state dept.. they only count accurately when it comes to getting their big payoffs!!!
The ESRI’ s answer to all our problems,even more tax,which means even less spending power for consumers and even more unimployment and a drain on the state,these so called intelligent people never cease to amaze,my area alone has 50pc less young people due to emigration,their tax proposals would likely just encourage the other 50pc to do the same.
Would the ESRI people clarify if their “calculations” include the USC in general and the pension levy applied to public servants as taxation? They are so quick to engage in semantics when it suits them. There should be no confusion when it comes to levies or tax. Both are a tax clear and simple. The ESRI have not included those figured in their calculations no doubt. We have one of the highest marginal rates of tax in Europe when everything is included. Nothing is ever completely clear with the ESRI.
ESRI are state and private corporate sponsored wafflers… this is state kite flying at its best!! Even the ESRI person on RTE Radio this morning did not sound very confident in the numbers being questioned… Not that RTE every really questions any one representing the state or Government!!
We the people of Ireland put up with enormous amounts of crap and poor decision making by our heartless state and puppet politicians!!!
A lot of countries also get more for their money. A tax increase here at the moment would be just to pay off the banks.
”the Economic and Social Research Institute found that other European countries – particularly Germany, Austria and Scandinavian countries – have higher taxes on income,”
they have – but they also have some of the best Education and medical services on face of planet .- unlike here where – bad as it was , these services have been cut further- to the bone in some cases .
Compare like with like – but they[ ESRI] would not like to do that – as they know the answers of such a comparision . .
”The researchers pointed out that the majority of the other EU countries don’t apply high income tax rates for those earning the most money, ”
—- now that does come as a shock – so they agree that the less well off should continue to subsidize the Rich .
—- A very surprising statment coming from the ESRI
ESRI, why dont you go and P*ss off and pick on someone else, leave the irish taxpayer alone for once.
I just wish the Irish Government had taken the advice of the ESRI during the property bubble.. No wait, they did.
The ESRI are a stain and embarrassment to right thinking people. They don’t have a clue what they are on about. Have they ever got it right? That is a genuine question. And if not, they should be sued for giving crap advice over the last 20 years.
Ah the good aul ESRI who when interviewed about the property tax some tme ago in the last word, Stated that a pensioner who cannot afford to pay the tax should sell there house and move to a place were the tax is less.
Ireland is one of the very few countries who are still growing. So the countries that have higher income tax, how does these compare with Ireland’s economic growth?
A lot of professionals are paying effectively ~55% tax on every increment above a middle income, which means bonuses, overtime, promotions are taxed to the hilts.
This country should focus on reducing costs, getting more value for money, reduce pension deficit (which is pretty high) and at the same time increase the standard of living for all people living here…. too unbelievable?
According to the department of finance figures the top 5% of earners (people earning over €100,000) pay 40% of the total tax paid.
Inflation is tax.
ESRI ?? What Jim Higgins said :-)
Why are you taking down honest accurate comments
what about the services we get in Ireland compared to Germany and Scandinavia? no health coverage, no public transport, no retirement contributions. I pay around 35% taxes for no benefits. I spend 50€ each time I go to the doctor and get antibiotics (which I have to pay) and 80€ a month for public transport. that’s a joke.
In Scandinavia, public transportation is my no means free.
€80 a month on public transportation is quite cheap (if you live and work in Dublin where transportation is good).
You also pay for Dr. and drugs in Scandinavia, although there is a maximum monthly limit.
35% is quite high and I think we should get more for our money.
Anybody on a salary or income of over €200,000 PA should pay 60 per cent Income Tax on the next €50,000 and 80 per cent on the excess over €250,000 PA.i
have your say