'Examine reaction to bomb warnings' - QC

Omagh devastation followed misleading bomb warnings

Omagh inquest day 14

One of the UK's leading barristers has said the Omagh inquest must include an examination of the police response to bomb warnings received on the day of the blast.

Michael Mansfield QC said that if this did not happen, the inquest "would be rendered a nonsense".

The inquest, sitting in Omagh leisure centre, is hearing about the deaths of 29 people killed in the bombing of the town centre by the dissident republican Real IRA on 15 August 1998.

Mr Mansfield is representing Lawrence Rush whose wife, Libby, was killed in the bomb.

'Not criticising'

Michael Mansfield: "Questions should be asked of officers"

The barrister outlined what he described as concerns about the police evacuation procedures on the day of the bombing.

While stressing that he was not criticising any single RUC officer, he said there were a number of questions which should be asked of four police officers on duty that day.

The questions related to their familiarity with RUC guidelines regarding evacuation procedures, and their knowledge of the danger zone presented by a large car bomb.

Mr Mansfield said it was important such points were raised as they could have a bearing if similar circumstances were to arise in the future.

Later, the husband of a woman murdered in the bombing called for lessons to be learned from the catastrophe and warned that it could still happen again.

Stanley McCombe, whose wife Ann, 49, was killed, said the Real IRA terrorists behind the attack were still active and added: "Omagh could happen again."

Michael Gallagher, whose son, Aidan, 21, was also killed, said the response of police and other agencies to bomb warnings that day should be examined.

He said: "I think we have to learn from it and identify any weaknesses that there are as well as any strengths.

"If that type of process had been started with the first bomb in The Troubles we would have a much better system in place."

Coroner John Leckey: Human Rights Commission cannot intervene

Coroner John Leckey listened to legal submissions from lawyers acting for a number of the bereaved who are pressing for the hearing to examine RUC protocol for bomb scares.

They also want to look at how police interpreted, passed on and then responded to the three bomb warnings telephoned by the Real IRA in the minutes leading up to the lethal blast.

The bomb exploded in the midst of crowds of people at the bottom of Market Street in Omagh as RUC officers were ushering them away from the other side of the town centre, believing the device to be there.

Solicitor Oliver Roche, acting for the family of 20 month-old Breda Devine who was killed, claimed many people still felt unable to return to Omagh town centre because it evoked painful memories and because they feared a repeat of the atrocity.

Inquests in Northern Ireland have limited powers compared with Coroner's Courts elsewhere in the UK and cannot reach verdicts, only findings.

Four RUC officers - the inspector and sergeant in charge in Omagh the day of the bombing and two constables on duty in the communications room of the town's police station - are scheduled to give evidence next week after Mr Leckey rules on how far proceedings can go.

Police are angered by the approach being sought, claiming it is effectively putting some officers on trial and is beyond the scope of the Coroner's Court in the province.

Mr Leckey has allowed police officers involved to postpone their appearance in the witness box until after he rules on the subject. They are due to go into the witness box next week.

Earlier, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was refused permission to intervene in the submissions.

Mr Leckey said the Commission, which was established last year under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, did not have express statutory power to step into proceedings.