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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| No public inquiry into Omagh bomb says NI Secretary | No public inquiry into Omagh bomb says NI Secretary |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Northern Ireland Secretary has said she has decided not to hold a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the 1998 Omagh bombing. | The Northern Ireland Secretary has said she has decided not to hold a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the 1998 Omagh bombing. |
| Twenty-nine people were murdered in the Real IRA attack. | Twenty-nine people were murdered in the Real IRA attack. |
| Theresa Villiers said she did not believe there were sufficient grounds to justify a further inquiry beyond those that have already taken place. | Theresa Villiers said she did not believe there were sufficient grounds to justify a further inquiry beyond those that have already taken place. |
| She said "it was not an easy decision and that all views had been carefully considered". | She said "it was not an easy decision and that all views had been carefully considered". |
| Ms Villiers said she believed that the ongoing investigation by the police ombudsman was the best way to address any outstanding issues relating to the police investigation. | Ms Villiers said she believed that the ongoing investigation by the police ombudsman was the best way to address any outstanding issues relating to the police investigation. |
| Last month relatives of the victims of the bombing said they were prepared to go to court to force the British and Irish governments to hold a full public inquiry into the bombing. | Last month relatives of the victims of the bombing said they were prepared to go to court to force the British and Irish governments to hold a full public inquiry into the bombing. |
| A letter telling relatives of the government decision was hand delivered to them on Thursday morning. | A letter telling relatives of the government decision was hand delivered to them on Thursday morning. |
| Relatives from the Omagh Self Help Group have said they are devastated by the news after their long campaign for a full public inquiry. | Relatives from the Omagh Self Help Group have said they are devastated by the news after their long campaign for a full public inquiry. |
| 'Full truth' | 'Full truth' |
| Some of the families of those killed still believe the full truth of the events surrounding the bombing has never been revealed. | Some of the families of those killed still believe the full truth of the events surrounding the bombing has never been revealed. |
| Over a year ago they presented a report to the British and Irish governments as part of their campaign for a full public inquiry. | Over a year ago they presented a report to the British and Irish governments as part of their campaign for a full public inquiry. |
| In August, just a few days before the 15th anniversary of the bombing, they revealed some of that document that they said shows there was substantial intelligence warning that dissident republicans were planning an attack. | In August, just a few days before the 15th anniversary of the bombing, they revealed some of that document that they said shows there was substantial intelligence warning that dissident republicans were planning an attack. |
| However, they believe information was not shared between police forces north and south of the border and intelligence services, including the FBI and MI5. | However, they believe information was not shared between police forces north and south of the border and intelligence services, including the FBI and MI5. |
| They said that the attack could have been prevented and the failure to reveal more about what was known had prevented anyone from being criminally convicted of the killings. | They said that the attack could have been prevented and the failure to reveal more about what was known had prevented anyone from being criminally convicted of the killings. |
| However, in her statement, Ms Villiers said: "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 into the Omagh attack. | However, in her statement, Ms Villiers said: "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 into the Omagh attack. |
| "The fact remains that the Real IRA carried out the bombing in Omagh on 15 August 1998, murdering 29 people and injuring many more. Responsibility is theirs alone. | "The fact remains that the Real IRA carried out the bombing in Omagh on 15 August 1998, murdering 29 people and injuring many more. Responsibility is theirs alone. |
| "I sincerely hope that the ongoing police investigation will bring to justice those responsible for this brutal crime. | "I sincerely hope that the ongoing police investigation will bring to justice those responsible for this brutal crime. |
| "I have met representatives of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, as have a number of my predecessors as Secretary of State. I have offered to meet them again to explain my decision further if they wish." | "I have met representatives of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, as have a number of my predecessors as Secretary of State. I have offered to meet them again to explain my decision further if they wish." |
| Ms Villiers said families of the victims were divided on the inquiry issue - some wanted one, but others had told her they would be further distressed. She also said there was still a live police investigation into the atrocity. | Ms Villiers said families of the victims were divided on the inquiry issue - some wanted one, but others had told her they would be further distressed. She also said there was still a live police investigation into the atrocity. |
| She said the issues had been previously "extensively investigated" by 10 previous inquiries, reviews or investigations. |