Editing Omagh bombing (section)

== Responsibility ==
=== Allegations ===
The Real IRA claimed responsibility for the bombing at the time. On 7 February 2008, a Real IRA spokesman stated that the group "had minimal involvement in Omagh. Our code word was used; nothing more. To have stated this at the time would have been lost in an understandable wave of emotion. ... Omagh was an absolute tragedy. Any loss of civilian life is regrettable."<ref name="resumption">{{cite news|url=http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/UH/free/349259728115496.php |title=Mackey slams Provos as RIRA vows resumption of violence |work=The Ulster Herald |date=7 February 2008 |access-date=11 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213223602/http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/UH/free/349259728115496.php |archive-date=13 February 2008 }}</ref>

On 9 October 2000, the BBC's ''[[Panorama (TV series)|Panorama]]'' programme aired the special "Who Bombed Omagh?", hosted by journalist [[John Ware (journalist)|John Ware]].<ref name="Panorama" /> The programme quoted RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan as saying, "Sadly up to this point we haven't been able to charge anyone with this terrible atrocity." ''Panorama'' alleged that the police on both sides of the Irish border knew the identity of the bombers.<ref name="Panorama" /> It said, "As the bomb car and the scout car headed for the border, the police believe they communicated by mobile phone. This is based on an analysis of calls made in the hours before, during and after the bombing. This analysis may prove to be the key to the Omagh bomb investigation."<ref name="Panorama" /> Using the phone records, the programme reported the names of the four prime suspects as Oliver Traynor, [[Liam Campbell]], [[Colm Murphy]], and [[Seamus Daly]].<ref name="Panorama" /> The police had leaked the information to the BBC since it was too circumstantial and coincidental to be used in court.<ref name=media>{{harvnb|de Burgh|2008|p=115}}</ref>

Northern Ireland Secretary [[Peter Mandelson]] praised the ''Panorama'' programme, calling it "a very powerful and very professional piece of work".<ref name="response1">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/964642.stm|title=Named Omagh 'suspect' in court|work=BBC News|date=10 October 2000|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref> Irish [[Taoiseach]] [[Bertie Ahern]] criticised it, saying that "bandying around names on television" could hinder attempts to secure convictions. First Minister [[David Trimble]] stated that he had "very grave doubts" about it.<ref name="response1" /> Lawrence Rush, whose wife Elizabeth died in the bombing, tried legally to block the programme from being broadcast, saying, "This is media justice, we can't allow this to happen".<ref name="justice">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/964661.stm|title=Omagh programme was 'media justice'|work=BBC News|date=10 October 2000|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref> [[Democratic Unionist Party]] [[Northern Ireland Assembly|assembly member]] Oliver Gibson, whose niece Esther died in the bombing, said that the government did not have the will to pursue those responsible and welcomed the programme.<ref name="justice" />

The police believe that the [[2001 BBC bombing|bombing of BBC Television Centre]] in [[London]] on 4 March 2001 was a revenge attack for the broadcast.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/mar/05/northernireland.ireland2|title=Bomb may be Panorama payback|date=5 March 2001|work=The Guardian|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref> On 9 April 2003, the five Real IRA members behind the BBC bombing were convicted and sentenced to between sixteen and twenty-two years.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2930957.stm|title=Real IRA bombers jailed|work=BBC News|date=9 April 2003|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref>

=== Prosecutions and court cases ===
On 22 September 1998, the RUC and [[Gardaí]] arrested twelve men in connection with the bombing. They subsequently released all of them without charge.<ref name="timeline" /> On 25 February 1999, they questioned and arrested at least seven suspects.<ref name="timeline" /> Builder and publican Colm Murphy, from [[County Louth|Ravensdale, County Louth]], was charged three days later for conspiracy and was convicted on 23 January 2002 by the Republic of Ireland's Special Criminal Court.<ref name="timeline" /> He was sentenced to fourteen years.<ref name="RTÉ" /> In January 2005, Murphy's conviction was quashed and a retrial was ordered by the [[Court of Criminal Appeal (Ireland)|Court of Criminal Appeal]], on the grounds that two Gardaí had falsified interview notes, and that Murphy's previous convictions were improperly taken into account by the trial judges.<ref name="RTÉ">{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0121/omagh.html|title=Relatives disappointed with Omagh ruling|date=21 January 2005|access-date=14 March 2007|work=RTÉ News}}</ref>

On 28 October 2000, the families of four children killed in the bombing – James Barker, 12, Samantha McFarland, 17, Lorraine Wilson, 15, and 20-month-old Breda Devine – launched a [[civil action]] against the suspects named by the ''Panorama'' programme.<ref name="timeline" /> On 15 March 2001, the families of all twenty-nine people killed in the bombing launched a [[British pound|£]]2-million civil action against Real IRA suspects [[Liam Campbell]], [[Colm Murphy]], [[Seamus Daly]], Seamus McKenna and [[Michael McKevitt]].<ref name="timeline" /> Former Northern Ireland secretaries Peter Mandelson, [[Tom King, Baron King of Bridgwater|Tom King]], [[Peter Brooke, Baron Brooke of Sutton Mandeville|Peter Brooke]], [[Lord Hurd]], [[James Prior, Baron Prior|Lord Prior]] and [[Lord Merlyn-Rees]] signed up in support of the plaintiffs' legal fund.<ref name="timeline" /> The civil action began in Northern Ireland on 7 April 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7333107.stm|title=Omagh civil case 'unprecedented'|work=BBC News|date=7 April 2008|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref>

On 6 September 2006, Murphy's nephew, Sean Hoey, an electrician from [[Jonesborough, County Armagh]], went on trial accused of twenty-nine counts of murder, and terrorism and explosives charges.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/sep/06/northernireland|title=Sickness halts Omagh trial|date=6 September 2006|access-date=14 March 2007|work=The Guardian}}</ref> Upon its completion, Hoey's trial found on 20 December 2007 that he was not guilty of all 56 charges against him.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7154221.stm|title=Man not guilty of Omagh murders|date=20 December 2007|access-date=20 December 2007|work=BBC News}}</ref>

On 24 January 2008, former Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan apologised to the victims' families for the lack of convictions in relation to the Omagh bombing.<ref name="ronnie">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7205855.stm|title=Flanagan apology to bomb families|work=BBC News|date=24 January 2008|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref> This apology was rejected by some of the victims' families.<ref name="ronnie" /> After the Hoey verdict, BBC News reporter Kevin Connolly stated, "The Omagh families were dignified in defeat, as they have been dignified at every stage of their fight for justice. Their campaigning will go on, but the prospect is surely receding now that anyone will ever be convicted of murdering their husbands and brothers and sisters and wives and children."<ref name="Kevin">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7154952.stm|title=How the Omagh case unravelled|work=BBC News|date=20 December 2007|access-date=11 April 2014|first=Kevin|last=Connolly}}</ref> [[Police Service of Northern Ireland]] [[Chief Constable]] Sir [[Hugh Orde]] stated that he believed there would be no further prosecutions.<ref name=itimes />

On 8 June 2009, the civil case taken by victims' relatives concluded, with McKevitt, Campbell, Murphy and Daly being found to have been responsible for the bombing. McKenna (died 14 July 2013) was cleared of involvement.<ref name="rte090608" /> The others were held liable for {{GBP|1.6 million}} of damages. It was described as a "landmark" [[damages]] award internationally.<ref name="Landmark damages awarded for N. Ireland bombing">{{cite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-40164020090608|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816025522/https://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-40164020090608|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 August 2018|title=Landmark damages awarded for N. Ireland bombing|date=8 June 2009|access-date=8 June 2009|work=Reuters (India)}}</ref> Murphy and Daly appealed and were granted a retrial, but this second trial also found them responsible for the bombing, with the judge describing the evidence as overwhelming.<ref name="Two men found responsible for Omagh bombing after landmark civil action">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/two-men-found-responsible-for-omagh-bombing-after-landmark-civil-action-8542702.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220523/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/two-men-found-responsible-for-omagh-bombing-after-landmark-civil-action-8542702.html |archive-date=23 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Two men found responsible for Omagh bombing after landmark civil action|date=20 March 2013|access-date=21 March 2013|work=The Independent|location=London, UK|first=John|last=Hall}}</ref>

On 10 April 2014 Daly was charged with murdering the twenty-nine victims of the Omagh bombing and with other offences.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/10758911/Republican-charged-over-Omagh-bombing.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/10758911/Republican-charged-over-Omagh-bombing.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Republican charged over Omagh bombing|work=The Telegraph|date=10 April 2014|access-date=11 April 2014|location=London, UK|first=Tom|last=Whitehead}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He was arrested in Newry by police after he crossed the border into Northern Ireland.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/apr/10/man-charged-murder-29-people-omagh-bombing|title=Man charged with murder of 29 people in 1998 Omagh bombing|work=The Guardian|date=10 April 2014|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref> The case against Daly was withdrawn in February 2016, with the Public Prosecution Service deciding there was "no reasonable prospect of conviction".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-35680970|title=Omagh bomb: Murder case against Seamus Daly collapses|date=1 March 2016|access-date=5 March 2016|work=BBC}}</ref>

In 2021, Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was killed during the attack, brought a case to the Belfast High Court which resulted in Mr Justice Mark Horner ruling that when considering certain grounds "there was a real prospect of preventing the Omagh bombing."<ref name="Horner-ruling">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-57937174|title=Omagh bomb: 'Real prospect attack could have been prevented'|work=BBC News|date=23 July 2021|accessdate=2 February 2023}}</ref> Horner also called for new investigations on both sides of the Irish border.<ref name="Horner-ruling"/>

=== Police Ombudsman report ===
[[Police Ombudsman]] [[Nuala O'Loan]] published a report on 12 December 2001 that strongly criticised the RUC over its handling of the bombing investigation.<ref name="unfair">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/1707299.stm|title=Omagh bomb report 'grossly unfair'|work=BBC News|date=12 December 2001|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref><ref name="belfast">{{cite news|url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/victims/docs/newspapers/belfast_telegraph/thornton_bt_051107b.pdf|title=Nuala O'Loan: the job I didn't want to leave|work=The Belfast Telegraph|date=5 November 2007|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref><ref name="report1">{{cite web|url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/police/ombudsman/po121201omagh1.pdf|title=Statement by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland on her Investigation of matters relating to the Omagh Bomb on 15 August 1998|date=12 December 2001|access-date=14 March 2007|publisher=University of Ulster}}</ref> Her report stated that RUC officers had ignored the previous warnings about a bomb and had failed to act on crucial intelligence.<ref name="Guardian" /><ref name="belfast" /><ref name="report" /> She went on to say that officers had been uncooperative and defensive during her inquiry.<ref name="report" /> The report concluded that, "The victims, their families, the people of Omagh and officers of the RUC were let down by defective leadership, poor judgement and a lack of urgency."<ref name="unfair" /> It recommended the setting up of a new investigation team independent of the new Police Service of Northern Ireland, which had since replaced the RUC, led by a senior officer from an outside police force.<ref name="unfair" />

Initially, the Police Association, which represents both senior officers and rank and file members of the Northern Ireland police, went to court to try to block the release of the O'Loan report.<ref name="Guardian" /><ref name="report" /> The Association stated that, "The ombudsman's report and associated decisions constitute a misuse of her statutory powers, responsibilities and functions."<ref name="report">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/2001264.stm|title=Fresh Conflict over Omagh bomb report|work=BBC News|date=22 May 2002|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref> The group later dropped its efforts.<ref name="Guardian" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/dec/21/leadersandreply.mainsection2|title=Justice denied|work=The Guardian|date=21 December 2007|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref> RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan called the report "grossly unfair" and "an erroneous conclusion reached in advance and then a desperate attempt to find anything that might happen to fit in with that."<ref name="unfair" /> Other senior police officers also disputed the report's findings.<ref name="belfast" /><ref name="report" /> Flanagan issued a 190-page counter-report in response, and has also stated that he has considered taking legal action.<ref name="unfair" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/1780588.stm|title=Omagh report: PSNI rebuttal|date=24 January 2002|work=BBC News|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref> He argued that the multiple warnings were given by the RIRA to cause confusion and lead to a greater loss of life.<ref name="Guardian" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/users/ireland/past/omagh/police_press_releases.html|title=Appendix B: Police Press Releases on the Omagh Bomb|first=Wesley|last=Johnston|access-date=14 March 2007}}</ref> Assistant Chief Constables Alan McQuillan and Sam Kincaid sent [[affidavits]] giving information that supported the report.<ref name="report" />

The families of the victims expressed varying reactions to the report.<ref name="reactions" /> Kevin Skelton, whose wife Philomena died in the attack, said that, "After the bomb at Omagh, we were told by Tony Blair and the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, that no stone would be left unturned&nbsp;... It seems to me that a lot of stones have been left unturned," but then expressed doubt that the bombing could have been prevented.<ref name="reactions" /> Lawrence Rush, whose wife Elizabeth died in the attack, said that, "There's no reason why Omagh should have happened – the police have been in dereliction of their duty."<ref name="reactions" /> Other Omagh residents said that the police did all that they could.<ref name="reactions">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/1706157.stm|title=Families shocked at Omagh report|work=BBC News|date=12 December 2001|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref> The ''[[Belfast Telegraph]]'' called the report a "watershed in police accountability" and stated that it "broke the taboo around official criticism of police in Northern Ireland".<ref name="belfast" /> Upon leaving office on 5 November 2007, Nuala O'Loan stated that the report was not a personal battle between herself and Sir Ronnie, and did not lead to one. She stated that the "recommendations which we made were complied with".<ref name="belfast" />

=== Independent bombing investigation ===
On 7 February 2008, the [[Northern Ireland Policing Board]] decided to appoint a panel of independent experts to review the police's investigation of the bombing. Some of the relatives of the bombing victims criticised the decision, saying that an international public inquiry covering both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland should have been established instead. The review was to determine whether enough evidence exists for further prosecutions. and to investigate the possible [[perjury]] of two police witnesses made during Hoey's trial.<ref name="inquiry">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7233834.stm|title=Omagh bomb investigation review|work=BBC News|date=7 February 2008|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref> Sinn Féin member of the Policing Board [[Alex Maskey]] stated that, "Sinn Féin fully supports the families' right to call for a full cross-border independent inquiry while the Policing Board has its clear and legal obligation to scrutinise the police handling of the investigations ... We recognise that the board has a major responsibility in carrying out our duty in holding the PSNI to account in the interests of justice for the Omagh families".<ref name="meeting">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-15275103.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611123553/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-15275103.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 June 2014|title=Orde to outline the extent of dissident threat|work=The Belfast Telegraph|date=7 February 2008|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref>

=== Advance warning allegations ===
In 2001, a [[double agent]] known as [[Kevin Fulton]] claimed he told his [[MI5]] [[Agent handling|handlers]] three days before the bombing that the Real IRA was about to bring a "huge bomb" across the border.<ref name="rightswatch16a">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20131019094823/http://www.rwuk.org/new/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Omagh-Report-15-8-13.pdf Report into the Omagh bombing]}} by Rights Watch/UK (15 August 2013), pp. 12–13.</ref> Fulton claims he also told them who he believed was making it and where it was being made.<ref name="rightswatch16a" /> He said that MI5 did not pass his information over to the police.<ref name="rightswatch16a" /><ref name="mirror">{{cite news|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-78946779|title=Omagh Bomb: Probe into RUC 'warning' nears end|work=The Sunday Mirror|date=7 October 2001|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0224/73414-omagh|title=MI5 withheld intelligence ahead of Omagh|date=24 February 2006|access-date=14 March 2007|work=RTÉ News}}</ref>

RUC Chief Constable [[Ronnie Flanagan]] called the allegations "preposterous" and said the information Fulton gave his handlers was full of "distortions and inaccuracies".<ref name="rightswatch16a" /> However, Flanagan admitted that some of Fulton's information was not passed to RUC Special Branch due to "an administrative error".<ref name="rightswatch16a" /> In September 2001, British security forces [[Informant|informer]] [[Willie Carlin (informer)|Willie Carlin]] said the Ombudsman had obtained evidence confirming Fulton's allegations. A spokesman for the Ombudsman neither confirmed nor denied this assertion.<ref name="mirror" />

David Rupert, an American citizen, was jointly run as an agent by MI5 and the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI). He worked as a fundraiser for the Real IRA. On 11 August 1998, four days before the bombing, Rupert informed his MI5 handlers that the Real IRA was planning a car bomb attack in Omagh or Derry. It is not known whether this information was passed to the RUC Special Branch.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20131019094823/http://www.rwuk.org/new/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Omagh-Report-15-8-13.pdf Report into the Omagh bombing]}} by Rights Watch/UK (15 August 2013), p. 15</ref>

The Gardaí also had their own agent close to the Real IRA at the time, Paddy Dixon, who stole cars that were used by the group to transport bombs.<ref name=rightswatch16b>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20131019094823/http://www.rwuk.org/new/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Omagh-Report-15-8-13.pdf Report into the Omagh bombing]}}, Rights Watch/UK (15 August 2013), pp. 12–13.</ref> Days before the bombing, the Real IRA had Dixon steal the Vauxhall Cavalier it would use in the attack.<ref name=rightswatch16b /> Dixon immediately told his handler, Detective Sergeant John White. On 12 August, White passed this on to his superior, Detective Chief Superintendent Dermot Jennings.<ref name=rightswatch16b /> According to White, Jennings told him that they would let the bomb go through, mainly so that the Real IRA would not become suspicious of Dixon.<ref name=rightswatch16b />

In 2003, a transcript of a conversation between Dixon and White was released. In it, Dixon confirms that Gardaí let the bomb go through and says that, "Omagh is going to blow up in their faces".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/oct/19/northernireland1|title=Omagh agent claims Garda let bomb pass|work=The Guardian|date=19 October 2003|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref> In February 2004, PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde called for the Republic of Ireland to hand over Dixon.<ref name="Guardian" /> In March 2006, Chief Constable Orde stated that "security services did not withhold intelligence that was relevant or would have progressed the Omagh inquiry".<ref name="Orde">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4763714.stm|title=MI5 "did not retain Omagh advice|work=BBC News|date=1 March 2006|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref> He stated that the dissident republicans investigated by MI5 were members of a different [[terrorist cell|cell]] than the perpetrators of the Omagh bombing.<ref name="Orde" />

A 2013 independent report concluded that the British, Irish and US intelligence agencies "starved" police in Omagh of intelligence that could have prevented the bombing. The report was commissioned by the victims' families and produced by Rights Watch (UK).<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/aug/08/omagh-bombing-intelligence-withheld-ira "Intelligence on Omagh bomb 'withheld from police'"], theguardian.com, 8 August 2013.</ref>

=== GCHQ monitoring ===
A BBC ''Panorama'' documentary, titled "Omagh: What the Police Were Never Told", was aired in September 2008. It revealed that the British intelligence agency [[Government Communications Headquarters|GCHQ]] was monitoring mobile phone calls between the bombers as the bomb car was being driven into Omagh.<ref name=rightswatch15>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20131019094823/http://www.rwuk.org/new/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Omagh-Report-15-8-13.pdf Report into the Omagh bombing]}}, rwuk.org (August 2013), pp. 15–16.</ref> Ray White, former Assistant Chief of RUC Special Branch, said GCHQ had been monitoring mobile phones at their request. He said he believed GCHQ were listening to the phone calls 'live', rather than merely recording them for later.<ref name=rightswatch15 /> John Ware claimed that a listening device had been hidden in the car and that GCHQ had recordings of what was said. None of this information was given to the RUC in Omagh at the time.<ref name=rightswatch15 /> Transcripts of the phone calls were later handed over to RUC Special Branch.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7606834.stm|title=GCHQ 'monitored Omagh bomb calls'|date=14 September 2008|access-date=14 September 2008|work=BBC News}}</ref>

=== Independent statutory inquiry ===
In February 2023, Northern Ireland Secretary [[Chris Heaton-Harris]] announced an independent statutory inquiry.<ref name="statutory-inquiry">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-64495873|title=Omagh bombing: UK government announces independent statutory inquiry|work=BBC News|first1=Ali|last1=Gordon|first2=Matt|last2=Fox|date=2 February 2023|accessdate=2 February 2023}}</ref> As opposed to a public inquiry, the chairman would decide which portions of the investigations could be made available to the public and the press.<ref name="statutory-inquiry"/> The inquiry will look into four different issues highlighted by a 2021 High Court ruling, namely the handling and sharing of intelligence, the use of mobile phone analysis, the possibility of the existence of advance knowledge of the bomb, and whether the attack could have been prevented by disruption operations.<ref name="statutory-inquiry"/>

=== Public inquiry ===
A [[public inquiry]] into the Omagh bombing began on 28 January 2025. The inquiry, which held a preliminary session the previous year, was established by the UK government to investigate whether the Real IRA bombing could have been prevented.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Omagh Bombing Inquiry: First day commemorates two victims from Spain |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy8xrn23mvgt |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> The inquiry will not identify the individuals responsible for the attack.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Omagh bombing inquiry latest: Victims remembered as inquiry opens |url=https://news.sky.com/story/omagh-bombing-inquiry-latest-victims-remembered-as-inquiry-opens-13298063 |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref>