Latest news with #OmaghBombing
The Independent
5 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Omagh bomb inquiry chair refuses Government's bid to redact civil servant names
The chairman of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry has rejected a bid by the Government to redact the names of junior civil servants in documents shared with other parties involved in the probe. The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) had argued that junior members of the Civil Service had more expectation of privacy than senior civil servants and it had raised potential security concerns over sharing their names. Inquiry chairman Lord Turnbull refused the application made by Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn in a ruling published on Tuesday and the documents, which are already in the possession of the inquiry, will now be shared with other core participants. The chairman made clear that the issue under consideration only related to sharing the documents with other core participants in the inquiry, and did not relate to the potential for them to be made public. Lord Turnbull stressed that all core participants are bound by confidentiality agreements. He said the issue about the potential publication of the names during the inquiry proceedings would be dealt with at a later juncture. 'This ruling is not concerned with the separate question of whether the content of any documentation which is disclosed in an unredacted fashion may, in due course, be aired in evidence and, or, published in the media,' he said. The Real IRA bomb in the Co Tyrone town in August 1998 killed 29 people, including a woman who was pregnant with twins, in the worst single atrocity in the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The public inquiry was set up by the previous government to examine whether the explosion could have been prevented by the UK authorities. Mr Benn's application was considered during procedural hearings in Belfast last month. During proceedings, the inquiry also considered a submission on the PSNI's position in respect of disclosing the names of people suspected of involvement in the 1998 attack and other linked terror activity. The PSNI did not make an application for redaction, and instead just set out its own view in respect of the issue. During the hearings, several media organisations also made representations in respect of both the Government and PSNI's submissions. In relation to the naming of suspects, Lord Turnbull said the matter was more 'straightforward' than the application to redact junior civil servants' names. 'In the end, there was no dispute between any of the contributing counsel as to what the correct approach should be,' he added. The inquiry intends to put suspects in one of two categories – those who have been named publicly in the media or Parliament already, and those who have not. Those in the first category will be assumed not to have a 'reasonable expectation' of privacy. Those in the second category will be subject to further examination by the inquiry to consider issues around privacy rights and security risks.
Irish Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Omagh bombing inquiry: ‘Body of material' not shared due to application to redact information
A 'considerable body of material' has not been shared with the Omagh bombing inquiry due to applications by the UK government and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to redact information from documents, a hearing has been told. The inquiry's lawyer Paul Greaney KC said there was a 'brake' on disclosure due to submissions, and that even at the 'early stage' of March this year 'as many as 80 documents were having to be withheld from disclosure'. It 'will not be possible to disclose to core participants a considerable body of material that contains the names of junior officials and/or suspects until the issues have been resolved', he said. Mr Greaney outlined his 'surprise and frustration' that the inquiry's legal team had received documents from the Northern Ireland Office at 4pm the previous afternoon and said there was a 'risk' it would 'undermine public confidence' in the UK government's approach to the inquiry. READ MORE 'It hardly needs to be said that this inquiry is about whether the Omagh bombing could have been prevented by UK state authorities, and it is also notable that this hearing ... concerns issues that could be described as ones involving transparency,' he said. 'So, it might be thought that HMG [His Majesty's Government] would have been scrupulous to avoid the impression that it was behaving in a way that was procedurally unhelpful,' he said. [ Republic must share Omagh bombing information with inquiry, says North's former police ombudsman Opens in new window ] The two-day hearing, before inquiry chair, Alan Turnbull, opened in Belfast on Wednesday to hear submissions from the UK government on redacting names of junior civil servants from material provided to the inquiry. Submissions were also heard from the PSNI regarding the protection of the identities of suspects connected to the Omagh bombing. The inquiry will see the documents in their unredacted form, so the hearing relates only to the provision of material to core participants to the inquiry. This includes bereaved relatives and those injured in the bombing, all of whom have signed confidentiality agreements. It does not relate to the release of such information into the public domain, which will be considered at a later date. A total of 31 people, including unborn twins, died and hundreds were injured when a car bomb planted by the dissident republican group the Real IRA exploded in the centre of the Co Tyrone town on August 15th, 1998. The inquiry into the bombing began hearing evidence earlier this year, and is due to resume in June. Appearing on behalf of the bereaved families represented by John McBurney solicitors, a barrister told Wednesday's he wished to express their 'dissatisfaction' at the 'apparent diluted candour which they perceive in the approach which has been taken by both HMG and the secretary of state'. [ Omagh bombing inquiry: State reaches deal clearing way for information to be shared Opens in new window ] He reiterated their 'full confidence in the inquiry' and said he would 'strongly discourage' the redaction of the names of junior civil servants 'in order to fully maintain the openness and transparency of these proceedings'. Earlier, addressing Fiona Fee KC, counsel for the Northern Secretary, Mr Turnbull said he had been 'disappointed to receive written notes on behalf of the Secretary of State late yesterday afternoon, just as I was boarding a flight to attend these proceedings' and he was also disappointed 'in respect of the level of engagement with the inquiry which it implies'. It appeared to demonstrate, he said, 'a lack of prioritisation, or allows an impression to be gained of a disrespectful or disorganised attitude towards the work of the inquiry'. Ms Fee said this was not the case and said 'absolutely no discourtesy to the inquiry or to other core participants was intended ... in fact, the intention was entirely the opposite'. On behalf of the PSNI, Philip Henry KC told the hearing it had made a 'conscious decision' not to lodge an application to redact suspects' names, but was 'flagging up these issues so that the inquiry can make an informed determination on the redaction issue'. The hearing resumes on Thursday.
BreakingNews.ie
21-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
UK Government's approach to Omagh bomb hearing ‘risks undermining public confidence'
The UK Government has risked 'undermining public confidence' in its approach to a hearing of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, its chairman has been told. Counsel to the inquiry Paul Greaney KC told a hearing in Belfast that it was 'highly unfortunate' that legal papers relating to the redaction of names were received on the evening before the public session. Advertisement Mr Greaney also said that as the hearings related to transparency, he would have thought the Government 'would have been scrupulous to avoid the impression that it was behaving in a way that was procedurally unhelpful and possibly even unfair'. Chairman of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry Lord Turnbull (Liam McBurney/PA) The hearing was told that applications from the UK Government and the PSNI to redact names of junior civil servants and bombing suspects from documents released to core participants in the inquiry is 'putting a brake' on its work. The Omagh Bombing Inquiry, chaired by Lord Turnbull, is holding procedural hearings in Belfast which relate to submissions to redact information from materials. The Real IRA bomb in the Co Tyrone town in August 1998 killed 29 people, including a woman who was pregnant with twins, in the worst single atrocity in the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Advertisement The public inquiry was set up by the previous government to examine whether the explosion could have been prevented by the UK authorities. Earlier this year the inquiry heard personal statements from those affected by the massacre. On Wednesday, Mr Greaney said there were two issues which the latest hearings would deal with. The first relates to a UK Government submission that the names of junior civil servants should be redacted from documents they provide before they are released to core participants. Advertisement The second relates to a PSNI application to redact the names of suspects who have not been charged from documents. The barrister said the inquiry would see the documents in unredacted form but the issue was whether they should be redacted before they are given to core participants. Core participants in the inquiry include the families of those who were killed in the bombing as well as multiple people who were injured. He said the issue of whether the names would be disclosed unredacted during oral evidence hearings would be dealt with at a future point. Advertisement He said: 'The current position of HMG (His Majesty's Government) and PSNI is putting a brake on the work of disclosure of the inquiry.' Setting out the background, Mr Greaney said the inquiry legal team had written earlier this year to the Government, asking it to make any applications for redaction by March 14th. He said: 'Even at that early stage, in March of this year, as many as 80 documents were having to be withheld from disclosure.' The barrister said the Government made an initial application on March 31st, then withdrew it and made a revised application for redactions of the names of junior civil servants on April 15th. Advertisement The Omagh Bombing killed 29 people, including the mother of unborn twins (Paul McErlane/PA) He said the inquiry's legal team proceeded on the basis that this was the Government's position. Mr Greaney added: 'It was therefore with considerable surprise and some frustration that at 4pm on 20th May, so yesterday and therefore the day before the hearing was scheduled to start, and moreover in circumstances in which we suggest it ought to have been anticipated that members of the inquiry legal team and the chairman and indeed core participants and their representatives would be travelling to Belfast, in those circumstances a skeleton argument was emailed to the inquiry legal team by the Crown Solicitor's Office on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. 'The inquiry legal team regard the unexpected service of a skeleton argument at such a late stage as highly unfortunate.' He added: 'This inquiry is about whether the Omagh bombing could have been prevented by UK state authorities. It is also notable this hearing concerns issues that could be described as ones involving transparency. 'It might be thought that HMG would have been scrupulous to avoid the impression that it was behaving in a way that was procedurally unhelpful and possibly even unfair. 'It seems to the inquiry legal team a risk that the approach taken by HMG to this hearing will undermine public confidence in HMG's approach to this inquiry.' The barrister said there had seemed to be 'a chaotic rush to provide materials at the very last minute'. Lord Turnbull will hear legal submissions from a number of interested parties on Wednesday and Thursday.
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Government approach to Omagh bomb hearing ‘risks undermining public confidence'
The UK Government has risked 'undermining public confidence' in its approach to a hearing of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, its chairman has been told. Counsel to the inquiry Paul Greaney KC told a hearing in Belfast that it was 'highly unfortunate' that legal papers relating to the redaction of names were received on the evening before the public session. Mr Greaney also said that as the hearings related to transparency, he would have thought the Government 'would have been scrupulous to avoid the impression that it was behaving in a way that was procedurally unhelpful and possibly even unfair'. The hearing was told that applications from the Government and the PSNI to redact names of junior civil servants and bombing suspects from documents released to core participants in the inquiry is 'putting a brake' on its work. The Omagh Bombing Inquiry, chaired by Lord Turnbull, is holding procedural hearings in Belfast which relate to submissions to redact information from materials. The Real IRA bomb in the Co Tyrone town in August 1998 killed 29 people, including a woman who was pregnant with twins, in the worst single atrocity in the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The public inquiry was set up by the previous government to examine whether the explosion could have been prevented by the UK authorities. Earlier this year the inquiry heard personal statements from those affected by the massacre. On Wednesday, Mr Greaney said there were two issues which the latest hearings would deal with. The first relates to a Government submission that the names of junior civil servants should be redacted from documents they provide before they are released to core participants. The second relates to a PSNI application to redact the names of suspects who have not been charged from documents. The barrister said the inquiry would see the documents in unredacted form but the issue was whether they should be redacted before they are given to core participants. Core participants in the inquiry include the families of those who were killed in the bombing as well as multiple people who were injured. He said the issue of whether the names would be disclosed unredacted during oral evidence hearings would be dealt with at a future point. He said: 'The current position of HMG (His Majesty's Government) and PSNI is putting a brake on the work of disclosure of the inquiry.' Setting out the background, Mr Greaney said the inquiry legal team had written earlier this year to the Government, asking it to make any applications for redaction by March 14. He said: 'Even at that early stage, in March of this year, as many as 80 documents were having to be withheld from disclosure.' The barrister said the Government made an initial application on March 31, then withdrew it and made a revised application for redactions of the names of junior civil servants on April 15. He said the inquiry's legal team proceeded on the basis that this was the Government's position. Mr Greaney added: 'It was therefore with considerable surprise and some frustration that at 4pm on 20th May, so yesterday and therefore the day before the hearing was scheduled to start, and moreover in circumstances in which we suggest it ought to have been anticipated that members of the inquiry legal team and the chairman and indeed core participants and their representatives would be travelling to Belfast, in those circumstances a skeleton argument was emailed to the inquiry legal team by the Crown Solicitor's Office on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. 'The inquiry legal team regard the unexpected service of a skeleton argument at such a late stage as highly unfortunate.' He added: 'This inquiry is about whether the Omagh bombing could have been prevented by UK state authorities. It is also notable this hearing concerns issues that could be described as ones involving transparency. 'It might be thought that HMG would have been scrupulous to avoid the impression that it was behaving in a way that was procedurally unhelpful and possibly even unfair. 'It seems to the inquiry legal team a risk that the approach taken by HMG to this hearing will undermine public confidence in HMG's approach to this inquiry.' The barrister said there had seemed to be 'a chaotic rush to provide materials at the very last minute'. Lord Turnbull will hear legal submissions from a number of interested parties on Wednesday and Thursday.
South Wales Argus
21-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Government approach to Omagh bomb hearing ‘risks undermining public confidence'
Counsel to the inquiry Paul Greaney KC told a hearing in Belfast that it was 'highly unfortunate' that legal papers relating to the redaction of names were received on the evening before the public session. Mr Greaney also said that as the hearings related to transparency, he would have thought the Government 'would have been scrupulous to avoid the impression that it was behaving in a way that was procedurally unhelpful and possibly even unfair'. Chairman of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry Lord Turnbull (Liam McBurney/PA) The hearing was told that applications from the Government and the PSNI to redact names of junior civil servants and bombing suspects from documents released to core participants in the inquiry is 'putting a brake' on its work. The Omagh Bombing Inquiry, chaired by Lord Turnbull, is holding procedural hearings in Belfast which relate to submissions to redact information from materials. The Real IRA bomb in the Co Tyrone town in August 1998 killed 29 people, including a woman who was pregnant with twins, in the worst single atrocity in the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The public inquiry was set up by the previous government to examine whether the explosion could have been prevented by the UK authorities. Earlier this year the inquiry heard personal statements from those affected by the massacre. On Wednesday, Mr Greaney said there were two issues which the latest hearings would deal with. The first relates to a Government submission that the names of junior civil servants should be redacted from documents they provide before they are released to core participants. The second relates to a PSNI application to redact the names of suspects who have not been charged from documents. The barrister said the inquiry would see the documents in unredacted form but the issue was whether they should be redacted before they are given to core participants. Core participants in the inquiry include the families of those who were killed in the bombing as well as multiple people who were injured. He said the issue of whether the names would be disclosed unredacted during oral evidence hearings would be dealt with at a future point. He said: 'The current position of HMG (His Majesty's Government) and PSNI is putting a brake on the work of disclosure of the inquiry.' Setting out the background, Mr Greaney said the inquiry legal team had written earlier this year to the Government, asking it to make any applications for redaction by March 14. He said: 'Even at that early stage, in March of this year, as many as 80 documents were having to be withheld from disclosure.' The barrister said the Government made an initial application on March 31, then withdrew it and made a revised application for redactions of the names of junior civil servants on April 15. The Omagh Bombing killed 29 people, including the mother of unborn twins (Paul McErlane/PA) He said the inquiry's legal team proceeded on the basis that this was the Government's position. Mr Greaney added: 'It was therefore with considerable surprise and some frustration that at 4pm on 20th May, so yesterday and therefore the day before the hearing was scheduled to start, and moreover in circumstances in which we suggest it ought to have been anticipated that members of the inquiry legal team and the chairman and indeed core participants and their representatives would be travelling to Belfast, in those circumstances a skeleton argument was emailed to the inquiry legal team by the Crown Solicitor's Office on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. 'The inquiry legal team regard the unexpected service of a skeleton argument at such a late stage as highly unfortunate.' He added: 'This inquiry is about whether the Omagh bombing could have been prevented by UK state authorities. It is also notable this hearing concerns issues that could be described as ones involving transparency. 'It might be thought that HMG would have been scrupulous to avoid the impression that it was behaving in a way that was procedurally unhelpful and possibly even unfair. 'It seems to the inquiry legal team a risk that the approach taken by HMG to this hearing will undermine public confidence in HMG's approach to this inquiry.' The barrister said there had seemed to be 'a chaotic rush to provide materials at the very last minute'. Lord Turnbull will hear legal submissions from a number of interested parties on Wednesday and Thursday.
