NI Secretary Urged To Call Public Inquiry Into Omagh Bombing

The SDLP has called on Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris to call a public inquiry into the Omagh bombing.

The party's West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan made the call after writing to outgoing Taoiseach Micheál Martin on behalf of the Omagh families to raise the issue.

In his response Mr Martin expressed his deep regret that no-one has been brought to justice for the bombing and suggested the Irish Government would look again at its approach if a public inquiry was called.

Mr McCrossan said: "I welcome the move by Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris to meet with the families of those impacted by the Omagh bombing and to hear directly from them their request for a public inquiry. The SDLP has long supported their campaign and the recent High Court judgement has further emphasised the need for a full independent investigation into the events of that awful day.

"I have personally petitioned the British Government for a public inquiry and raised the issue directly with then Taoiseach Micheál Martin late last year. I welcome his response in which he accepted there is an obligation for both governments to consider the High Court's ruling. He also expressed his deep regret that no-one has been brought to justice for the bombing and suggested the Irish Government would look again at its approach if a public inquiry was called.

"It is time we had a public inquiry to establish once and for all exactly what happened in Omagh. Families still have many unanswered questions and have been let down by the justice system time and time again. These people have been through an unbelievable ordeal over the last few decades, lives have been shattered and irrevocably changed and this is the least they deserve. The SDLP will always stand with them in their fight for truth and justice."