Senior officer to oversee Omagh inquiry

The Policing Board recommended the appointment

A senior Merseyside police officer has been appointed to oversee the investigation into the Omagh bomb atrocity.

Deputy chief constable Mike Tonge agreed to accept the post during talks with members of the Northern Ireland Policing Board on Thursday.

Mr Tonge was considered to be the person to oversee the investigation into the Real IRA atrocity in the County Tyrone town.

Twenty-nine people died in the bombing which was the worst single atrocity in 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland.

Denis Bradley: Vice-chairman of the Policing Board

Speaking about the move, board vice-chairman Denis Bradley said: "His role is both to oversee the situation and to work directly with the board.

"He is going to quality assure the situation and if there are any difficulties, if he identifies anything, then he brings them to the board."

Mr Tonge's colleague Philip Jones, has already been appointed to scrutinise the Police Service of Northern Ireland's inquiry into the bombing.

Mr Jones was given equal status to PSNI senior investigating officer Brian McArthur following the controversy regarding the Police Ombudsman's report into the investigation.

Nuala O'Loan's report led to a public row with the then chief constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan about how the police investigation into the bombing was handled.

The Policing Board moved to resolve the dispute by appointing an officer from another force to oversee the investigation.

Overview

Mr Tonge will monitor the investigation's progress and report back to the 19-member board.

He will also ensure that recommendations made in the police review of the murder investigation are dealt with.

However, he will remain in his post in Merseyside.

He is going to quality assure the situation and if there are any difficulties, if he identifies anything then he brings them to the board

Denis Bradley

Mr Tongue has an overview of all matters without operational control.

These responsibilities will include:

Critically examining the resource and skill levels needed to satisfactorily conclude the investigation

Undertaking a quality assurance role, particularly regarding the internal police probe which formed the basis of Mrs O'Loan's report

Monitoring progress in the investigation

Enhancing further working practices with the gardai in relation to the Omagh bomb inquiry

Identify further obstacles standing in the way of progress

Offering strategic guidance to the board

Reporting to the board at agreed intervals

The board is made up of 10 politicians from three of Northern Ireland's main parties and nine non-political members.

It can hold the chief constable to account and its recommendations must be considered by the police service.

Only one man in the Irish Republic has been jailed in connection with the bombing.