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Omagh bomb families challenge Theresa Villiers | |
(about 11 hours later) | |
The families of some Omagh bomb victims have met the Northern Ireland secretary after she ruled out a public inquiry into the 1998 attack. | |
They have called for a cross-border public inquiry, amid allegations that the security services could have done more to prevent the Real IRA bomb. | |
But Ms Villiers has said there are insufficient grounds for a new inquiry. | |
Twenty-nine people, including a woman pregnant with twins, died when a dissident republican car bomb exploded. | |
Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aidan died in the bomb attack in the County Tyrone town, said neither side gave any ground during a half hour meeting at Hillsborough Castle on Wednesday. | |
"There was no change of minds," he said. "She attempted to justify her decision and give her reasons but we still do not accept them. | |
"She gave us some detail but there was other information we wanted that she did not have at hand, which surprised us." | |
After Ms Villiers ruled out their request, the campaigners said they would seek a judicial review of her decision. | |
However, not all of the victims' families are involved in the public inquiry campaign. | However, not all of the victims' families are involved in the public inquiry campaign. |
Kevin Skelton who lost his wife, Mena, in the atrocity, said his family "went through hell" to get their lives back on track and did not want another inquiry. | Kevin Skelton who lost his wife, Mena, in the atrocity, said his family "went through hell" to get their lives back on track and did not want another inquiry. |
A spokeswoman for the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) said: "This was a private meeting but the secretary of state was very happy to meet with the families and hear their concerns." |
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