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Omagh bombing: Nuala O'Loan says 'it could have been prevented' Omagh bombing: Nuala O'Loan says 'it could have been prevented'
(about 1 hour later)
Former Police Ombudsman Baroness Nuala O'Loan said she believes the Omagh bomb could have been prevented. The Omagh bomb could have been prevented if the security forces had acted differently, a former police ombudsman has claimed.
She also renewed her call for a public inquiry into the greatest single loss of life in the Troubles. Baroness Nuala O'Loan made the comments on the 20th anniversary of the greatest single loss of life in the Troubles.
A bell will ring in Omagh later to mark the 20th anniversary of the moment a car bomb exploded, killing 29 people. The chief constable rejected her claim and said her comments would "further traumatise" victims' families.
A woman pregnant with twins was among those killed by the dissident republican attack in the County Tyrone town on 15 August 1998. A woman pregnant with twins was among 29 people killed in the dissident republican attack on 15 August 1998.
A former senior police officer rejected Baroness O'Loan's claims.
Baroness O'Loan told BBC Radio Foyle: "When I reported on Omagh I said we didn't know whether the bomb could have been prevented.Baroness O'Loan told BBC Radio Foyle: "When I reported on Omagh I said we didn't know whether the bomb could have been prevented.
"It is now my very firm view that the bomb could have been prevented.""It is now my very firm view that the bomb could have been prevented."
The men behind the attack
Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt was responsible for the Omagh bomb, a High Court judge found in a civil case in 2009.
Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly were also found liable for the attack.
Seamus McKenna was cleared. He died in 2013.
The four men were named by Mr Justice Morgan in a ruling made as part of a landmark case taken by some of the families of the victims.
The 12 relatives were awarded more than £1.6m in damages for the attack but to date none has been paid.
"That is a terrible thing to say on the anniversary of an event in which 29 people and two little unborn babies died."That is a terrible thing to say on the anniversary of an event in which 29 people and two little unborn babies died.
"But I think it is the view of most of the families to whom I spoke when I published my report. There was sufficient intelligence to take action."But I think it is the view of most of the families to whom I spoke when I published my report. There was sufficient intelligence to take action.
"The taking of that action could have prevented the bomb from exploding."The taking of that action could have prevented the bomb from exploding.
"This wasn't just a random bomb. The police knew an awful lot about the activities of the IRA in this area.""This wasn't just a random bomb. The police knew an awful lot about the activities of the IRA in this area."
When Baroness O'Loan was police ombudsman, her office carried out an investigation into the police's handlings of warnings before the bombing.When Baroness O'Loan was police ombudsman, her office carried out an investigation into the police's handlings of warnings before the bombing.
Alan Mains, a former senior crime advisor for Northern Ireland with the PSNI, said it was "absolutely naive" to believe police could have prevented the atrocity. 'Why now?'
"We did everything at that particular time, in terms of trying to disseminate the information," Mr Mains told BBC News NI. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable George Hamilton said the idea that police could have prevented the bomb is "not something, as leader of this organisation, that I am prepared to accept".
"If there could have been prevention, we would have taken that, so I'm quite astounded at Nuala O'Loan's assertions." He told BBC News NI: "If it is factually true and can be proven to any standard of proof whatsoever, why did she not say it in 2001 when she published her report?
"Then, when she held the office, when she had access to all the material, she came to the conclusion that she could not know based on all that information if the bomb could have been prevented.
"She now has changed her position on that, without real explanation."
Omagh bomb timelineOmagh bomb timeline
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Kevin Skelton, whose wife Philomena died in the Real IRA atrocity, told BBC Radio Foyle that Baroness O'Loan's comments do not "make any difference".Kevin Skelton, whose wife Philomena died in the Real IRA atrocity, told BBC Radio Foyle that Baroness O'Loan's comments do not "make any difference".
"Telling us now that the bomb could have been prevented is a bit late," said Mr Skelton."Telling us now that the bomb could have been prevented is a bit late," said Mr Skelton.
"It should have been prevented at the time."It should have been prevented at the time.
"It won't bring my wife back.""It won't bring my wife back."
A town remembersA town remembers
A bell will be rung 32 times in memory of the victims later on Wednesday. In Omagh, a bell will be rung 32 times in memory of the victims later on Wednesday.
The additional, single peal will be rung for all who have lost their lives in atrocities around the world.The additional, single peal will be rung for all who have lost their lives in atrocities around the world.
The Omagh bombing was carried out by the dissident republican Real IRA, several months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.The Omagh bombing was carried out by the dissident republican Real IRA, several months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.
The bomb, which was packed with 225kg of explosives, detonated in a vehicle parked in the middle of the main street just after 15:10 BST on 15 August 1998.The bomb, which was packed with 225kg of explosives, detonated in a vehicle parked in the middle of the main street just after 15:10 BST on 15 August 1998.
A warning had been called in 40 minutes earlier but had given the wrong location of the car containing the bomb.A warning had been called in 40 minutes earlier but had given the wrong location of the car containing the bomb.
The dead included three generations of one family.The dead included three generations of one family.
No-one has been convicted over the bombing.No-one has been convicted over the bombing.
The bell-ringing event is part of a public vigil to be held at the bottom of Market Street, beginning at 14:55.The bell-ringing event is part of a public vigil to be held at the bottom of Market Street, beginning at 14:55.
The bell will stop ringing 15 minutes later, at the time of the explosion, and will be followed by a two-minute silence.The bell will stop ringing 15 minutes later, at the time of the explosion, and will be followed by a two-minute silence.
Flower petals will be distributed, which people can scatter in the river, or place in the pond of a memorial garden created to remember the victims.Flower petals will be distributed, which people can scatter in the river, or place in the pond of a memorial garden created to remember the victims.
These event is being co-ordinated by a group of organisations, including Omagh Support & Self Help Group, Families Moving On and the Omagh Churches' Forum.These event is being co-ordinated by a group of organisations, including Omagh Support & Self Help Group, Families Moving On and the Omagh Churches' Forum.
Victims organisation Omagh Families Moving On is chaired by Kevin Skelton.Victims organisation Omagh Families Moving On is chaired by Kevin Skelton.
He said the event was about remembrance, hope and moving forward, recognising the forgotten people of the Omagh bomb including those involved in the aftermath of the bomb such as shopkeepers and undertakers.He said the event was about remembrance, hope and moving forward, recognising the forgotten people of the Omagh bomb including those involved in the aftermath of the bomb such as shopkeepers and undertakers.
On Sunday, a cross-community service was held at the town's memorial gardens.On Sunday, a cross-community service was held at the town's memorial gardens.
Victims and their families were remembered with prayers, music and speeches.Victims and their families were remembered with prayers, music and speeches.
Wreaths were laid and the names of all those killed in the attack were read out.Wreaths were laid and the names of all those killed in the attack were read out.
Each year over the past 20 years, people have come together to mark the anniversary, but this year's event in the memorial garden will be the last to take place on this scale.Each year over the past 20 years, people have come together to mark the anniversary, but this year's event in the memorial garden will be the last to take place on this scale.
Last year, relatives of the victims announced they would sue the PSNI's Chief Constable George Hamilton for failings they believed allowed the killers to escape justice.Last year, relatives of the victims announced they would sue the PSNI's Chief Constable George Hamilton for failings they believed allowed the killers to escape justice.
Mr Hamilton said on Sunday he understood why the families would feel "angry and let down", adding that even the huge amount of investigative effort - with 99 arrests and 11,000 investigative actions by the PSNI and An Garda Síochána (Irish police) - "is not good enough".Mr Hamilton said on Sunday he understood why the families would feel "angry and let down", adding that even the huge amount of investigative effort - with 99 arrests and 11,000 investigative actions by the PSNI and An Garda Síochána (Irish police) - "is not good enough".
"People have not been brought to justice... but the families have an assurance from me that if new evidence emerges, we will actively pursue that. But it is also fair to say, and realistic, that as time goes by, the chances of a criminal justice outcome reduces," he said."People have not been brought to justice... but the families have an assurance from me that if new evidence emerges, we will actively pursue that. But it is also fair to say, and realistic, that as time goes by, the chances of a criminal justice outcome reduces," he said.