Editing Omagh bombing (section)

=== 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>