Commons Sense

House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement

Terms of Reference for the Omagh Bombing Inquiry

21 February 2024 · Northern Ireland Office

Proposed by Chris Heaton-Harris Con Daventry

Northern Ireland

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

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At a glance

Key points

  • The minister has finalised the Terms of Reference for the Omagh Bombing Inquiry.
  • The inquiry will investigate the preventability of the Omagh Bombing by UK state authorities.
  • The scope includes threat assessments, measures to disrupt terrorists, and intelligence sharing practices.

Issue summary

The statement addresses the establishment and formalisation of terms of reference for the Omagh Bombing Inquiry.

Action requested

The minister has finalised the Terms of Reference for the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, which is now established to investigate preventability by UK state authorities. The inquiry's scope includes various aspects such as threat assessments, measures taken to disrupt terrorists, intelligence sharing practices, and analysis of relevant intelligence.

Key facts

  • Lord Turnbull KC was appointed as Chairman of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry.
  • The car bomb detonated in Omagh on 15 August 1998 killed 29 people and two unborn children, injuring 220 others.
  • The inquiry will investigate preventability by UK state authorities with a focus on matters considered in Re Gallagher [2021] NIQB 85.
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