It was the worst single atrocity of the Northern Ireland conflict. Eight years ago, Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was killed in the blast, launched the judicial review against the UK Government’s refusal to order a public inquiry into security failings prior to the bombing. Delivering the long-awaiting judgment in Belfast High Court, Mr Justice Horner said: “I am satisfied that certain grounds when considered separately or together give rise to plausible allegations that there was a real prospect of preventing the Omagh bombing. “These grounds involve, inter alia, the consideration of terrorist activity on both sides of the border by prominent dissident terrorist republicans leading up to the Omagh bomb. “I am not going to order a public inquiry to look at the arguable grounds of preventability,” he said.

Source: Irish Independent July 23, 2021 10:30 UTC