Witnesses to be called as Omagh bombing inquest resumes

The Omagh Bomb inquiry resumes today with witnesses in the coming weeks to give evidence about the run up to the 1998 atrocity.

Among those being heard from this week is a senior garda officer who is expected to provide initial evidence about the theft of the car used in the bombing.

It was stolen in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan two days before the explosion.

Twenty nine people were killed, including a woman pregnant with twins and more than 220 others were injured when the bomb went off on the Co Tyrone town's main street on 15 August 1998.

The inquiry, established by the UK government, is to establish whether anything could have been done by any UK agency to prevent the attack.

It will look specifically at the handling and sharing of intelligence; whether there was advance knowledge of the attack and if it could have been disrupted.

The first phase of the inquiry has already heard the personal testimonies of those bereaved and injured in the Real IRA bombing.

A second phase heard the positions of what are called the core participants, including the bereaved families, the injured, the police, Northern Ireland's police ombudsman and the then RUC chief constable, Ronnie Flanagan.

This third phase is expected to last four weeks.

It will examine how the Omagh bombing was carried out and by whom.

There will be a detailed exploration of the construction of the bomb, the movements of the bomb car, warning calls, use of telephones, scientific evidence, arrests and subsequent court proceedings.

The first week will cover the period up to the day before the explosion and will include the theft of the Vauxhall Cavalier used in the bombing.

On Thursday, Detective Superintendent Casserly of An Garda Síochána will have his pre-recorded witness statement played to the inquiry.

In June this year legislation to facilitate Irish state co-operation with the UK inquiry was signed into law by President Catherine Connolly.

The International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry Act) 2026 was enacted to allow members of An Garda Síochána and other Irish agencies to co-operate with requests for assistance from the inquiry team.

The inquiry will also hear this week from Dr John Morrison, a London based academic and terrorism expert on the emergence of dissident republican groups after the Provisional IRA ceasefire.

Also due to give evidence is Dr Angela Gallop, a leading UK expert on forensic science and advanced DNA profiling.

Telecom experts will also provide a presentation on the phones believed to have been used by the bombers and a cell site analysis map to show where and when they were in contact with one another.