The Northern Ireland Secretary, Chris Heaton-Harris, is expected to announce on Thursday whether a public inquiry will be ordered into the 1998 Omagh bombing. The statement will be made in the House of Commons, following a long-running legal campaign by relatives of the 29 victims.
The bombing, carried out by the Real IRA in County Tyrone, was the deadliest single atrocity of the Troubles. In July 2021, the High Court ruled that an investigation should take place on both sides of the Irish border to determine if intelligence could have prevented the attack.
Mr Justice Horner, who presided over the case, stated that it was plausible the bombing could have been stopped. He recommended that any investigation examine whether a more proactive disruption campaign could have thwarted the attack, but did not specify that it must be a public inquiry.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden died in the bombing and who brought the legal action, has insisted that only a full public inquiry can deliver truth and justice. The Irish government has indicated it will await the UK government's announcement before deciding on its own response.
Irish Justice Minister Simon Harris said he was not aware of the specifics of Mr Heaton-Harris's statement, but confirmed that the Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, had spoken with the Northern Ireland Secretary on Wednesday night. The minister stressed the importance of adding value to any inquiry.
