Member's statement: Omagh Bomb Inquiry

Member's statement by Mr Trevor Clarke on 5 May 2026.

MLA

Mr Trevor Clarke

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

5 May 2026

Type

Member's statement

Business

Members' Statements

Heading

Omagh Bomb Inquiry

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5524316

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Reference has been made today to one inquiry, and I want to talk about a different inquiry: the inquiry into the Omagh bomb, which detonated in August 1998. Of course, we heard over the weekend about some of the officers who were affected by that and about how they are going to withdraw from the inquiry. I fully agree with them, and I support them wholeheartedly. Over the years, the PSNI has had difficulty in supporting its officers whilst in service, but now we have heard of the recent suicide of a man, a former police officer, who had been called to give evidence to the inquiry. A number of weeks ago, I travelled to Omagh to meet representatives of Military and Police Support of West Tyrone (MAPS). I saw the work that that organisation does on a voluntary basis for the community of Omagh and beyond. I believe that it covers all of Northern Ireland because its services are so important and so vital to so many. During my time there, I walked around Omagh, and I have to admit that I had not been there since the atrocity. The gentleman who took me on that walk was one of the police officers who was there to serve and protect our community. He walked me through the street that day, and I felt as if it was 1998. You could see the horror on his face. He could show me where the dead bodies lay and where people were placed — every aspect of that bomb. Twenty-eight years later, that man is living it as if it was today. Of course, I think of the barbarity of the actions of those who were responsible for that bomb. We heard in another debate today that some blame state forces, and I think that there is a fear in the police and among others that there will be finger-pointing in relation to the inquiry. Of course, I do not want to stray into that. However, let us be very clear. Those who are responsible are those who planted the bomb and detonated that bomb on that day. One thing is sure: I stand and my party colleagues stand with the retired officers until — not before — adequate trauma support is given to the officers who are being asked to give evidence at the inquiry.

It is important that we do not continue to re-traumatise those men and women, who were out to protect us. It is important that they give evidence but only when they are given adequate trauma support and the necessary counselling for what they witnessed, which they are having to revisit.

444 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:35 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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