FAMILIES of those who lost loved one's in the Omagh bombing have criticised the Dublin government's decision not to publish, in its entirety, the Nally Report. The report looked into allegations made by Garda Detective Sergeant, John White, that senior investigators involved in the Republic's investigation into the Omagh bombing ignored vital intelligence.
The report was concluded in 2003 but was not published for ' legal and security' reasons.
However, a censored version of the report has been published this week by the Taniste and Justice Minister, Michael McDowell. The inquiry which was headed by former senior government official, Dermot Nally, found that there was no foundation to the allegations made by Mr White.
However, a spokesman for Omagh Self Help and Support Group, said the families are deeply concerned by the timing of the release of the censored report into John White's allegations, in light of court proceedings involving Mr White. This week a judge dismissed six charges including making false statements and attempting to pervert the course of justice which White had faced.
Spokesman for the group, Michael Gallagher said, "We also note that the inquiry did not interview Paddy Dixon, who was the key, or should have been the key witness at the inquiry."
He said that the senior investigator in to the Omagh bomb inquiry was also not interviewed.
"We believe this report is of limited value and we now call on the government to hold a full cross-border Public Inquiry into the full circumstances of the 1998 Omagh bombing.
Politicians, both North and South, have called for the publication of the full report. Labour Party TD, Pat Rabbitte speaking following the collapse of the case against Sergeant White said, "This acquittal has major consequences for public confidence in the integrity of the Garda Siochana. It is now time for Minister McDowell to deliver on his earlier commitment and to make public a version of the Nally report, edited with a view to preserving proper confidentiality on issues of state security on the allegations made by detective sergeant White."
