New Omagh intelligence inquiry must unlock a chain reaction of truth
It seems to have come as a surprise to at least one minister. “We are not immediately attracted to the idea of a public inquiry,” security minister Paul Goggins said for publication only this morning. Sure enough, the inquiry by retired Appeal Court judge Sir Peter Gibson the Intelligence Services Commissioner announced by the Prime Minister after yesterday’s visit to Belfast isn’t to be held in “public:”
“to review the intercepted intelligence material available to the security and intelligence agencies in relation to the Omagh bombing and how it was shared.”
But it’s right on the button of the Panorama report, it’s time-limited to three months and the Prime Minister has promised to report to Parliament. On the face of it, this is a significant move, but there are plenty of caveats.
There are two principal linked questions emerging from the RUC account given to Panorama:: Why didn’t GCHQ pass on their monitoring to the police immediately to cut off the bombers – if they were listening live? And two, why did they not share, promptly and in full, the results of their monitoring to the police, if not for use in court which was banned, then to help in the hunt for the bombers while it was still hot? This is a top secret area. Sir Peter Gibson has not been one for pushing out the envelope. In his annual report last year he “declined to reveal the number of bugs these agencies had planted, on the grounds that to do so would “assist those hostile to the UK”. In other words, he could submit his report under secrecy.
But Gordon Brown can hardly get on his feet in the Commons a couple of weeks before Christmas and say “ the guys done ok, I can tell you no more.” He has to explain in full was meant by GCHQ’s alleged deadly, terse admission: “ We missed it”
For a decade, the Omagh families have been given a horrible run- around by the celebrity bit players in the tragedy, the presidents, princes and prime ministers who by their hurried visits to inconveniently sealed off Omagh streets lent credence to the view that “no stone would be left unturned.” Their torment is all the more exquisite for the truth allegedly lying just out of reach. This particular inquiry is about one link in the evidential chain. Yet if truth emerges about this one, pressure will inevitably mount for a chain reaction of truth to run right along the length of this terribly botched disconnected investigation, through the old SB, the CID, Sir Ronnie Flanagan and the Gardai. The police and security establishment will be expecting no less. They must be prevented from exploiting this inquiry just to settle old scores. Under revised rules, intercept evidence can now be used in court but only with the permission of the agency involved. If GCHQ has such evidence it is their bounden duty to reveal it. Either way the time has come – is long overdue – for telling the real story either in court prosecutions if possible or if not, as much of it as the law allows in public. Anything less would be the most hollow of mockeries. Gordon Brown cautious champion of openness, has a chance here to do himself proud. He could leave a much worse legacy.
Tir Eoghain Gael,
Your post to me about denial on this thread is positively ironic given the attitutes of certain republicans and their inability to accept what was done in the name of their cause in places like Omagh and their transparent attempts to apply equal and collective guilt to as many other parties as possible for THEIR actions….BTW don’t suppose to try and de-stabilise my credibility on this issue based on your assumptions of my views on other matters – they are quite frankly irrelevant….
Democratic…
I think you may be believing that some folk (including myself) are trying to score points in favour of Irish Nationalism regarding the Omagh bombing by somehow putting the blame on the British security forces. Please, but this is not the case. I came to re-reading Irish history again within the last few years and approached it with a fair and open mind. But the fact is Ireland and her people throughout the centuries always got a raw deal from London right up till partition and the Troubles. The UK is Anglocentric, England and her security comes first and foremost, everyone else is to toe the line within the UK. Regarding Ireland, we have all been victims here through religion, allegiance, etc…both Unionist and Nationalist alike. England, GCHQ, MI5/MI6 etc….is the top dog that really matters, they call the shots and everyone else is to jump. Don’t get me wrong, there is no anti ‘British’ or anti ‘English’ sentiment here for we can all identify with English culture etc…and many of us in Ireland have relatives there too. But it is London’s governance and administration of Ireland that is the problem and alot of Irish folk have an issue with this! Irish folk have been treated like shit throughout the centuries, including the past decades…..again both Unionist and Nationalist alike!