This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8356020.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Omagh officer says police at risk Omagh officer says police at risk
(20 minutes later)
The policeman who led the Omagh bomb investigation has warned that officers are being put at risk because they are not getting enough protection.The policeman who led the Omagh bomb investigation has warned that officers are being put at risk because they are not getting enough protection.
Norman Baxter blamed the government for the current situation, which he described as "chaos".Norman Baxter blamed the government for the current situation, which he described as "chaos".
He made the remarks to an MP committee which is investigating the intelligence surrounding the 1998 Omagh bombing. He made the remarks to an MPs' committee investigating intelligence surrounding the 1998 Omagh bombing.
He also told the MPs that intelligence was not made available to the team which investigated the atrocity.He also told the MPs that intelligence was not made available to the team which investigated the atrocity.
Twenty-nine people, including a woman pregnant with twins, were killed in the Real IRA bomb attack on 15 August 1998.Twenty-nine people, including a woman pregnant with twins, were killed in the Real IRA bomb attack on 15 August 1998.
'Repeating mistakes''Repeating mistakes'
Mr Baxter, who is also the former head of the PSNI's Serious Crime Branch, said there was a policy of running down security in Northern Ireland which dates back to the 1990s.Mr Baxter, who is also the former head of the PSNI's Serious Crime Branch, said there was a policy of running down security in Northern Ireland which dates back to the 1990s.
He told the Commons committee it was inspired by political thinking and he warned that, in light of the dissident threat, the government was repeating the same mistakes now.He told the Commons committee it was inspired by political thinking and he warned that, in light of the dissident threat, the government was repeating the same mistakes now.
He said the situation was like the "Emperor's New Clothes" where everyone carried on pretending everything was normal.He said the situation was like the "Emperor's New Clothes" where everyone carried on pretending everything was normal.
Referring to the Omagh bombing, he said the security policy at the time was a failure.Referring to the Omagh bombing, he said the security policy at the time was a failure.
'Missed opportunities''Missed opportunities'
He told MPs that the government and the authorities took their eye off the ball before the atrocity.He told MPs that the government and the authorities took their eye off the ball before the atrocity.
Mr Baxter said that whilst he believed the bombing could not have been prevented, opportunities to intervene in the run up to Omagh were missed.Mr Baxter said that whilst he believed the bombing could not have been prevented, opportunities to intervene in the run up to Omagh were missed.
He said intelligence was not made available to the investigating team and he believed there was a policy not to pass on intelligence.He said intelligence was not made available to the investigating team and he believed there was a policy not to pass on intelligence.