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| Inquiry hears about 'beautiful lives' lost in Omagh | |
| (33 minutes later) | |
| Michael Gallagher, who lost his 21-year-old son Aidan in the attack, arriving at the inquiry | |
| The first phase of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry has opened, with its chairman stating he was "shocked at the level of grief" imposed on bereaved families and survivors. | The first phase of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry has opened, with its chairman stating he was "shocked at the level of grief" imposed on bereaved families and survivors. |
| Lord Turnbull was speaking at the start of the hearings, which will begin by commemorating the lives of the 29 people murdered in the bombing, including a woman expecting twins. | Lord Turnbull was speaking at the start of the hearings, which will begin by commemorating the lives of the 29 people murdered in the bombing, including a woman expecting twins. |
| The attack, carried out in 1998 by the dissident republican Real IRA, was the biggest single atrocity of the Northern Ireland Troubles. | The attack, carried out in 1998 by the dissident republican Real IRA, was the biggest single atrocity of the Northern Ireland Troubles. |
| Detailed pen portraits of the victims will be read out during the hearing, in many instances by their relatives. | Detailed pen portraits of the victims will be read out during the hearing, in many instances by their relatives. |
| Timeline of events | Timeline of events |
| On Tuesday morning, Lord Turnbull said evidence would "give real insight into the devastating and lasting impact of terrible and random violence which otherwise might be incomprehensible to those who have no such experience in their lives". | On Tuesday morning, Lord Turnbull said evidence would "give real insight into the devastating and lasting impact of terrible and random violence which otherwise might be incomprehensible to those who have no such experience in their lives". |
| "Those beyond Omagh who listen and watch will, as I was, be shocked at the level of grief imposed on ordinary, decent members of society doing nothing other than living their daily lives." | "Those beyond Omagh who listen and watch will, as I was, be shocked at the level of grief imposed on ordinary, decent members of society doing nothing other than living their daily lives." |
| The names of those murdered in the Real IRA bombing were read out and a minute's silence observed at the opening session. | The names of those murdered in the Real IRA bombing were read out and a minute's silence observed at the opening session. |
| Paul Greaney KC, senior counsel to the inquiry, said the statements and personal testimony were "a key starting point" in the inquiry. | Paul Greaney KC, senior counsel to the inquiry, said the statements and personal testimony were "a key starting point" in the inquiry. |
| Mr Greaney said: "It will be distressing evidence to listen to, but it is vital that it is heard and heard in public. | Mr Greaney said: "It will be distressing evidence to listen to, but it is vital that it is heard and heard in public. |
| "Understanding the impact of the bombing is critical to the investigation of the issue of preventability and for that reason we will not shy away from shining a bright light on the terrible consequences of that day." | "Understanding the impact of the bombing is critical to the investigation of the issue of preventability and for that reason we will not shy away from shining a bright light on the terrible consequences of that day." |
| He said what was done in Omagh in August 1998, was "an act of savagery". | He said what was done in Omagh in August 1998, was "an act of savagery". |
| The WAVE Trauma Centre is offering support to witnesses and their families "at a stressful and traumatic time". | The WAVE Trauma Centre is offering support to witnesses and their families "at a stressful and traumatic time". |
| Its chief executive, Sandra Peake, said reliving that day would be "harrowing". | |
| "For all those impacted on that terrible day, the bombing is anything but a distant memory," she said. | "For all those impacted on that terrible day, the bombing is anything but a distant memory," she said. |
| "It lives with them every day." | "It lives with them every day." |
| The inquiry seeks to determine whether the bombing could have been prevented by UK state authorities. | The inquiry seeks to determine whether the bombing could have been prevented by UK state authorities. |
| The commemorative hearings are being held at Strule Arts Centre in Omagh. | |
| The opening phase of the inquiry lasts four weeks and will also hear evidence from survivors and first responders. | |
| Some relatives have agreed to give testimony directly – in other instances their statements will be delivered by lawyers. | Some relatives have agreed to give testimony directly – in other instances their statements will be delivered by lawyers. |
| Fernando Blasco Baselga and Rocio Abad Ramos were in Omagh as part of a language exchange group | Fernando Blasco Baselga and Rocio Abad Ramos were in Omagh as part of a language exchange group |
| The first day will remember two victims from Madrid, Spain. | The first day will remember two victims from Madrid, Spain. |
| Twelve-year-old Fernando Blasco Baselga was part of a language exchange programme staying in Buncrana in County Donegal which had come to Omagh for a visit to the Ulster American Folk Park. | |
| They had stopped in the town centre to shop when the bomb went off. | |
| A commemorative statement, prepared by the Baselga family, was read out by solicitor Michael Donaghy. | |
| The schoolboy was described as a "happy and generous child" with a strong religious faith. | |
| Mr Donaghy, said: "When in a catechism group and asked what was important to him, his response was 'to reach him', pointing upwards to God. | |
| "That is what he wanted for his future. He didn't consider anything else." | |
| The inquiry was told he played handball for his school team and his favourite dish was rice salad. | |
| He was participating in the exchange group for a second time when he died. | |
| His body was given a military escort home for his funeral in Madrid. | |
| Rocio Abad Ramos, 23, was also part of the same language exchange group which had been based in Buncrana in County Donegal, as a team leader. | Rocio Abad Ramos, 23, was also part of the same language exchange group which had been based in Buncrana in County Donegal, as a team leader. |
| She was one of three sisters from Madrid. | She was one of three sisters from Madrid. |
| Mr Greaney said she had come to love Ireland, and was successful academically and as an athlete. | Mr Greaney said she had come to love Ireland, and was successful academically and as an athlete. |
| "She was a kind and compassionate person," he added. | "She was a kind and compassionate person," he added. |
| Michael Gallagher, who lost his 21-year-old son Aidan in the attack, said the inquiry was very important and that he was "grateful that the victims are centre and front and a voice will be given to them". | |
| "I think it's important the world knows the type of people we lost in Omagh that day," he said. | "I think it's important the world knows the type of people we lost in Omagh that day," he said. |
| "Hearing those beautiful innocent people's lives, what they were like as people, what their dreams were. | "Hearing those beautiful innocent people's lives, what they were like as people, what their dreams were. |
| "Even the fact there were two unborn children. I find it difficult to deal with that kind of pain... you just can't help but feel the pain of others." | "Even the fact there were two unborn children. I find it difficult to deal with that kind of pain... you just can't help but feel the pain of others." |
| The bomb exploded in Omagh town centre on a busy Saturday afternoon in 1998 | |
| The Irish government has promised to co-operate with the inquiry – the bombers launched the attack from across the border. | |
| Visiting Stormont on Tuesday, Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) Simon Harris reiterated that. | |
| Dublin previously indicated there was no new evidence to merit a separate public inquiry in the Republic of Ireland. | |
| The Irish government has faced criticism for its stance and has been urged to reconsider. | |
| Harris said his priority was on "finding the right mechanism" for co-operation and said he understood Tuesday would be a "very difficult day" for families and victims of the atrocity. | |
| victims | victims |
| What was the Omagh bomb? | What was the Omagh bomb? |
| The Omagh bomb exploded in the town centre on a busy Saturday afternoon on 15 August 1998. | The Omagh bomb exploded in the town centre on a busy Saturday afternoon on 15 August 1998. |
| The streets were packed with shoppers, including families who were buying uniforms and other supplies as children were due to return to school after summer. | The streets were packed with shoppers, including families who were buying uniforms and other supplies as children were due to return to school after summer. |
| The attack took place four months after the signing of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. | The attack took place four months after the signing of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. |
| Also known as the Belfast Agreement, the international peace deal helped to bring an end to 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland, knowns as the Troubles. | Also known as the Belfast Agreement, the international peace deal helped to bring an end to 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland, knowns as the Troubles. |
| The treaty had ushered in a period of hope and optimism but not everyone involved in the conflict supported the outcome of the peace talks. | The treaty had ushered in a period of hope and optimism but not everyone involved in the conflict supported the outcome of the peace talks. |
| The Real IRA (RIRA) - a dissident republican paramilitary group - had disagreed with the decision of the much larger Provisional IRA to call a ceasefire ahead of the talks. | The Real IRA (RIRA) - a dissident republican paramilitary group - had disagreed with the decision of the much larger Provisional IRA to call a ceasefire ahead of the talks. |
| It set up its own faction and continued to plant car bombs in towns across Northern Ireland, some of which exploded causing multiple injuries. | It set up its own faction and continued to plant car bombs in towns across Northern Ireland, some of which exploded causing multiple injuries. |
| But the Omagh bomb was by far the RIRA's most deadly attack. | But the Omagh bomb was by far the RIRA's most deadly attack. |
| Nine children, including a baby, were among the dead. | Nine children, including a baby, were among the dead. |
| More than 200 other people were wounded, some of whom survived with life-changing injuries. | More than 200 other people were wounded, some of whom survived with life-changing injuries. |
| Who carried out the Omagh bomb? | Who carried out the Omagh bomb? |
| Three days after the 1998 attack, the Real IRA released a statement claiming responsibility for the explosion. | Three days after the 1998 attack, the Real IRA released a statement claiming responsibility for the explosion. |
| It apologised to "civilian" victims and said its targets had been commercial. | It apologised to "civilian" victims and said its targets had been commercial. |
| Almost 27 years on, no-one has been convicted of carrying out the murders by a criminal court. | Almost 27 years on, no-one has been convicted of carrying out the murders by a criminal court. |
| A handful of men have been prosecuted on charges linked to the attack but each of them were either acquitted or had their convictions overturned on appeal. | A handful of men have been prosecuted on charges linked to the attack but each of them were either acquitted or had their convictions overturned on appeal. |
| With no criminal convictions secured, the victims' families then began a landmark civil case, suing five men they alleged were involved in the bombing. | With no criminal convictions secured, the victims' families then began a landmark civil case, suing five men they alleged were involved in the bombing. |
| In 2009, the judge in that case ruled four of the men - Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly were all liable for the Omagh bomb. | In 2009, the judge in that case ruled four of the men - Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly were all liable for the Omagh bomb. |
| The four men were ordered to pay a total of £1.6m in damages to the relatives, but appeals against the ruling delayed the compensation process. | The four men were ordered to pay a total of £1.6m in damages to the relatives, but appeals against the ruling delayed the compensation process. |
| A fifth man, Seamus McKenna, was acquitted in the civil action and later died in a roofing accident in 2013. | A fifth man, Seamus McKenna, was acquitted in the civil action and later died in a roofing accident in 2013. |
| Michael McKevitt, who was alleged to have been the leader of the Real IRA at the time of the bombing, died in 2021 having been diagnosed with cancer. | Michael McKevitt, who was alleged to have been the leader of the Real IRA at the time of the bombing, died in 2021 having been diagnosed with cancer. |
| He had spent 15 years in jail after an Irish court convicted him of directing terrorism, a new offence introduced by the Irish government in response to the Omagh bomb. | He had spent 15 years in jail after an Irish court convicted him of directing terrorism, a new offence introduced by the Irish government in response to the Omagh bomb. |
| The late Michael McKevitt was alleged to be the leader of the Real IRA in 1998 | The late Michael McKevitt was alleged to be the leader of the Real IRA in 1998 |
| Colm Murphy, originally from County Armagh, was jailed for 14 years in 2002 when a Dublin court found him guilty of conspiracy to cause the Omagh bombing. | Colm Murphy, originally from County Armagh, was jailed for 14 years in 2002 when a Dublin court found him guilty of conspiracy to cause the Omagh bombing. |
| However, his conviction was ruled to be unsafe in 2005 and he was cleared of the charge in a 2010 retrial. | However, his conviction was ruled to be unsafe in 2005 and he was cleared of the charge in a 2010 retrial. |
| He died in hospital aged 70 in 2023. | He died in hospital aged 70 in 2023. |
| In 2016, a case against Seamus Daly, from Jonesborough, County Armagh, collapsed. | In 2016, a case against Seamus Daly, from Jonesborough, County Armagh, collapsed. |