United Kingdom: The Terms of Reference for the Omagh Bombing Inquiry has released by the UK government. Following the Chair of the Inquiry, Lord Turnbull’s agreement, Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris MP announced the terms of reference for the Omagh bombing inquiry.
The UK Government confirmed last year that it would set up an independent statutory inquiry into the possible prevention of the August 1998 Omagh bombing. The atrocity was carried out by the Real IRA, which resulted in the death of 29 people, as well as the death of two unborn children, and the injury of 220 others.
The Terms of Reference focus on the four grounds which the Northern Ireland High Court found to support a reasonable argument that the bombing could have been prevented. An inquiry has been established under the Inquiries Act 2005 with full powers, including the ability to compel documents to be produced and to call witnesses to testify under oath.
The Secretary of State outlined the Terms of Reference in a written statement to Parliament. Heaton-Harris stated that, “I want to first again express my deepest sympathy for all of those affected by the Omagh bombing in August 1998. It was a cruel atrocity carried out, not just on the people of Omagh, but on all those in Northern Ireland who supported the peace process.”
“Following the announcement of the Inquiry in February 2023, and the appointment of Lord Turnbull as Chair in June 2023, I have now agreed with Lord Turnbull the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry. These are focused on the four grounds identified by the Northern Ireland High Court as giving rise to plausible arguments that the bombing could have been prevented,” he said.
“With the Terms of Reference now agreed, the Inquiry can press ahead with its work to comply with the judgement of the High Court, demonstrating the UK Government’s ongoing commitment to taking proper action on legacy-related matters,” Heaton-Harris remarked.
The Secretary said that, “The Inquiry Chair will now undertake a setting-up exercise to design the Inquiry as he sees fit, and he will announce further details about the Inquiry in due course.”
He further added to his statement that, “I urge the Irish Government to now explain what consideration it has given to the setting up of an investigation in Ireland to discharge its obligations under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, in line with the clear direction of the High Court.”
TRENDING | US veto of immediate ceasefire call faces criticism at UN
