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Inquiry urged after Omagh apology Apology not enough - Omagh father
(about 2 hours later)
A man who lost his son in the Omagh bombing has welcomed a public apology by Northern Ireland's former head of police to the victims' families. The father of a boy killed in the Omagh bombing has said Sir Ronnie Flanagan's apology does not go far enough.
Sir Ronnie, who was RUC chief constable at the time of the attack, said he was "desperately sorry" no-one had been brought to justice. The former RUC chief constable said he was desperately sorry that no-one had been convicted for the Real IRA attack which killed 29 people in 1998.
Twenty-nine people died in the Real IRA atrocity of August 1998. But Victor Barker said Sir Ronnie should now resign as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was killed, said there also needed to be a public inquiry into the bombing. Michael Gallagher, whose son also died, welcomed the apology but said there also needed to be a public inquiry.
"For me the bigger concern is that we don't look at one individual," he said. Sir Ronnie made the apology after meeting Mr Barker on Wednesday evening.
"This is a nine and a half year investigation. There have been tremendous failings right through that period, and they are not just confined to Northern Ireland, because that is only part of the story. On Thursday, Mr Barker, whose 12-year-old son James was murdered, said: "I said to Ronnie in view of the fact that he was ultimately responsible for this investigation he should resign.
Sir Ronnie Flanagan apologised to the families "It was only when he was in front of the cameras afterwards that he said he apologised for the fact that no-one has been brought to justice.
"That's why we feel that some overarching inquiry, a public inquiry, that will look at both sides of the border, and find out why this crime was not solved." "He didn't apologise for the fact that his investigation was deeply flawed."
Sir Ronnie made the apology after meeting Victor Barker on Wednesday evening. Mr Barker, whose son also died in the blast, has been critical of the lack of court convictions. Mr Flanagan told Channel 4 News: "I publicly apologise to all those families and all those victims; to all those who were injured, without reservation."
Mr Flanagan told Channel 4 News: "I publicly apologise to all those families and all those victims; to all those who were injured, without reservation," he said.
Last month Sean Hoey - the only man charged with murdering the 29 people - was cleared.Last month Sean Hoey - the only man charged with murdering the 29 people - was cleared.
The families expressed criticism of Mr Flanagan, who is now Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary.The families expressed criticism of Mr Flanagan, who is now Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary.
Twenty-nine people were killed in the Omagh bomb
"Of course as chief constable, I have to take responsibility for the shortcomings that the judge highlighted and I take responsibility for those shortcomings," he told Channel Four."Of course as chief constable, I have to take responsibility for the shortcomings that the judge highlighted and I take responsibility for those shortcomings," he told Channel Four.
Mr Gallagher, whose son Aidan was killed, said: "For me the bigger concern is that we don't look at one individual.
"This is a nine and a half year investigation. There have been tremendous failings right through that period, and they are not just confined to Northern Ireland, because that is only part of the story.
"That's why we feel that some overarching inquiry, a public inquiry, that will look at both sides of the border, and find out why this crime was not solved."