The battle is over.. I don't need to keep fighting

Grieving dad's relief at inquiry | 'Issues over intelligence use

- MICHELLE FLEMING

 

FOR the last 25 years, Michael Gallagher has been on a quest for justice for his son Aiden, who died in the Omagh bomb.

It happened on August 15, 1998-25 years ago tomorrow - and was the worst single atrocity in the history of the Troubles, killing 29 people and unborn twins.

Aiden was among the six men, 14 women and nine children who died after a car bomb planted by the Real IRA ripped through Omagh's bustling town centre that Saturday afternoon.

But on the anniversary, grandad Michael has news he spent decades battling for.

"The battle is over," said the 74year-old. "I don't need to keep fighting anymore."

INQUIRY

In February, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris announced a public inquiry would be held into Omagh.

"Thank God Heaton-Harris agreed and gave us that inquiry," said Michael, who took a judicial review on former Secretary of State Theresa Villiers' statement 10 years ago that there would be no benefit in a public inquiry.

He was vindicated in 2018 when former NI Police Ombudsman Baroness Nuala O'Loan said the bomb could have been prevented if intelligence was acted upon.

"A former High Court Judge Lord Turnbull, who was over the Lockerbie Pan Am bombing trial, will be the chair," said Michael. "I met with him last Monday.