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Apology not enough - Omagh father I won't resign says Sir Ronnie
(about 4 hours later)
The father of a boy killed in the Omagh bombing has said Sir Ronnie Flanagan's apology does not go far enough. Former RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan has said he won't resign despite calls from some of the relatives of the Omagh bomb victims.
The former RUC chief constable said he was desperately sorry that no-one had been convicted for the Real IRA attack which killed 29 people in 1998. He said he was "desperately sorry" no-one had been convicted for the 1998 Real IRA attack which killed 29 people.
But Victor Barker said Sir Ronnie should now resign as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary. But Sir Ronnie, now Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, said he didn't see what positive outcome his resignation could have.
Former police ombudsman Nuala O'Loan said she would not call for Sir Ronnie to step down from his post. Last month Sean Hoey, was acquitted of 58 charges including the Omagh bombing.
Sir Ronnie made the apology after meeting Mr Barker on Wednesday evening. In his ruling, Lord Justice Weir was scathing in his criticism of the police investigation into the bombing.
The former police chief told Channel Four News: "I publicly apologise to all those families and all those victims; to all those who were injured, without reservation." The former RUC chief constable said he was desperately sorry but he would not leave his current post.
"I have thought very carefully. The families' thoughts are very important to me," he said.
"But I do not see what positive outcome there would be through my resignation."
Victor Barker, whose son was killed in Omagh, had called for his resignation in the light of the court ruling.
Nuala O'Loan has been highly critical of Sir Ronnie's leadershipNuala O'Loan has been highly critical of Sir Ronnie's leadership
He added: "Of course as chief constable, I have to take responsibility for the shortcomings that the judge highlighted and I take responsibility for those shortcomings." Sir Ronnie made his apology after meeting Mr Barker on Wednesday evening.
Last month Sean Hoey - the only man charged with murdering the 29 people - was cleared.
After the trial, victims' families expressed criticism of Sir Ronnie.
On Thursday, Mr Barker, whose 12-year-old son, James, was murdered, said: "I said to Ronnie in view of the fact that he was ultimately responsible for this investigation he should resign.
"It was only when he was in front of the cameras afterwards that he said he apologised for the fact that no-one has been brought to justice.
"He didn't apologise for the fact that his investigation was deeply flawed."
Twenty-nine people were killed in the Omagh bombTwenty-nine people were killed in the Omagh bomb
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was killed, welcomed the apology but said a public inquiry was needed. Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was also killed in the bombing, welcomed the apology but said a public inquiry was needed.
"This is a nine and a half year investigation. There have been tremendous failings right through that period, and they are not just confined to Northern Ireland, because that is only part of the story."This is a nine and a half year investigation. There have been tremendous failings right through that period, and they are not just confined to Northern Ireland, because that is only part of the story.
"That's why we feel that some over-arching inquiry (is needed), a public inquiry, that will look at both sides of the border, and find out why this crime was not solved.""That's why we feel that some over-arching inquiry (is needed), a public inquiry, that will look at both sides of the border, and find out why this crime was not solved."
Ms O'Loan, who resigned as police ombudsman last November, published a highly critical report of the Omagh bomb inquiry in December 2001.
She said at the time that the judgement and leadership of Sir Ronnie was "seriously flawed".
However, following his public apology to victims' families, she said: "The apology, fundamentally and first, must be an apology to the victims of Omagh.
"All I can say is that in 2001 I said this was a very flawed investigation and I criticised, very unusually, I criticised his judgement and his leadership.
"That now, if you like, has been confirmed by Mr Justice Weir and he (Sir Ronnie) is the chief constable who was responsible for those failings."