Omagh Bombing Public Inquiry Ruled Out

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers has rejected the request for a public inquiry into the Omagh bombing.

Ms Villiers decided there were not enough grounds to justify a further review or inquiry into the attack by the Real IRA in 1998, in which 29 people died.

The blast in Co Tyrone was one of the worst atrocities in the Northern Ireland conflict, and relatives had called for an all-Ireland probe into whether more could have been done to prevent it.

But Ms Villiers said: "I do not believe that there are sufficient grounds to justify a further review or inquiry above or beyond those that have already taken place or are ongoing.

"This was not an easy decision to make and all views were carefully considered.

"I believe that the ongoing investigation by the office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland is the best way to address any outstanding issues relating to the police investigation."

Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan died in the bombing, told Sky News he was "absolutely disappointed, but not surprised".

"We gave both governments a document over a year ago that shows that both the British and Irish government could have done something to prevent the Omagh bomb," he said.

"Those people didn't need to die and yet here we have the Secretary of State saying we cannot have a public inquiry."

Mr Gallagher claimed the reasons given for the refusal were "trivial" and he said relatives would immediately start pursuing a judicial review.

"We have the result now - it's not the result we wanted, but at least we can move forward. We can go to the courts and that's exactly what we will do," he said in Belfast.

He insisted a full, public judicial inquiry with the power to compel witnesses to attend was required - pointing out that the police ombudsman does not have that ability.

The bomb was detonated just months after the signing of the historic Good Friday Agreement peace deal.

No one has been criminally convicted, but four republicans were found liable in a landmark civil case taken by relatives and ordered to pay £1.6m in compensation.

A number of survivors and the families of victims supported the bid for a full inquiry, but others told the Secretary of State it would cause them further pain.

Their views were weighed against other factors including the series of previous inquiries and the current investigation by the police ombudsman, officials said.

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