Omagh bomb relatives criticise Irish government as officer gives pre-recorded evidence

Relatives of victims of the 1998 Real IRA Omagh bomb atrocity have described the Irish Government's contribution to the inquiry as a "farce" after evidence from a senior police officer was delivered in a pre-recorded video.

Kevin Skelton, who lost his wife Philomena in the bomb, said he was "finished" with the inquiry and vowed not to return.

Separately Claire Hayes, whose brother Alan Radford was also killed in the attack which claimed 29 lives including a woman who was pregnant with twins, said it appeared the Irish government was not willing to offer its full support.

Counsel to the inquiry acknowledged that the form of evidence had "limitations".

Garda officers and others State witnesses were previously unable to speak to the inquiry due to concerns around national security.

In June the Irish Government brought in new legislation that allowed agreed questions to be put to the Garda and other state witnesses in an Irish court in front of a judge with the answers recorded for the inquiry.

The pre-recorded format has met with criticism from the families of relatives who say the process eliminates the opportunity to cross-examine the witness.

On Thursday the inquiry heard evidence about the stolen car that was used in the attack.

It was played a pre-recorded interview with senior garda officer Det Supt Emmett Casserly.

The officer disclosed that on the night the maroon coloured Vauxhall Cavalier used in the bombing was stolen in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, three other attempts were made to steal similar vehicles in the town.

This took place in the early morning of 13 August.

The garda described Carrickmacross as a busy market town with "traffic going through it at all times of the days and night".

And he said the street it was stolen from "wouldn't have been known for anything other than being a quiet residential area".

The theft of the car was reported to RUC the following day and added to a list of stolen and located vehicles within the Republic of Ireland.

Following the video evidence, counsel Paul Greaney KC said the Irish government had declined to permit most of the additional questions the inquiry legal team had sought to ask the detective.

He said they had indicated that supplementary questions should be submitted through a statutory procedure.

"It's important to say, however, that it wasn't simply a no, because what was indicated was that supplementary questions should be posed through the statutory procedure."

Mr Skelton, whose wife was killed while on a shopping trip with him and their three daughters, said he was "disappointed, but not surprised" at the contribution from police in the Republic of Ireland.

"We know how many questions, there were 53 questions sent in and there was about two answered.

"They are not co-operating with the inquiry. I don't care what they say.

"The Irish Government is not co-operating, they never have."

Mr Skelton said he would not be returning to the inquiry.

"It would drive you nuts. I won't be back. That is it, that's me finished.

"It is not doing any good, it is not going anywhere. It is not doing anything for me only putting me through torture.

"At my age now I need to step back… we are not going to get to the truth."

Claire Hayes, who lost her brother in the blast, said the pre-record format prevented families and the legal teams of victims from putting their questions to the detective and wider Gardaí.

"They said they would leave no stone unturned, and what we have heard today has been a reiteration of facts that we already know," she said.

"That shows the level of input they are willing to put into our inquiry," she said.

She further said evidence given on Thursday merely reiterated the facts she and other families have known for the past 28 years.

Describing the situation as a "farce" she added: "The knowledge we have heard for the past couple of days... has been from south of the border.

"There is a lot more that lies from south of the border than what we're getting at the moment."

Hayes added that she felt let down by a promise that "families would be at the centre" of the inquiry.

"We feel very much like the families are not at the centre of this inquiry whatsoever."

The Omagh bomb exploded on 15 August 1998, killing 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins.

More than 200 people were injured in the blast.

No-one has ever been convicted of the atrocity.

Three days after the attack, the Real IRA released a statement claiming responsibility for the explosion.

It apologised to "civilian" victims and said its targets had been commercial.

No-one has been convicted of carrying out the murders by a criminal court.

In 2009, Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly were all ordered to pay a total of £1.6m in damages to the relatives, but appeals against the ruling delayed the compensation process.