A former Secretary of State fell asleep during a meeting with families of the Omagh bomb victims, a lead campaigner has told the inquiry into the atrocity.
Michael Gallagher was speaking during the commemorative hearing for his son Aiden (21), who was among the 29 people, including a mother carrying unborn twins, who died in the Real IRA blast on August 15, 1998.
During proceedings today, Mr Gallagher revealed that a previous NI Secretary had dozed off in front of victims’ families.
“I can recall a meeting with a previous Secretary of State when they actually fell asleep during the meeting,” he told the inquiry.
“I don’t know if it was out of boredom, but it was quite astonishing.”
Mr Gallagher also reflected on the moment when another Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris, revealed to the families in 2021 that the public inquiry they yearned for would take place.
The devastation after the bomb blast in Omagh. Photo: PA/Getty
It followed a 2013 rejection of their request by then-incumbent Theresa Villiers, who cited an ongoing Police Ombudsman investigation as the reason for the decision.
“From the very first meeting we had with Chris Heaton-Harris, though, there was a different atmosphere,” Mr Gallagher said.
“He made a point of coming to Omagh and visiting the Memorial Garden.
“We owe a huge gratitude to him for the difficult decision he had to make and I have no doubt he had to overcome many obstacles in order to make that decision.
“His whole approach to victims, for me, was completely different.”
Mr Gallagher also told the inquiry that the victims of the Omagh bombing have become the freedom fighters that their killers claimed to be.
“That day, the so-called Real IRA declared war on an unsuspecting civilian population for their own political aims,” he said.
“This is a group that describes themselves as freedom fighters. In fact, I think they are freedom takers. The victims have ended up being the freedom fighters.”
Aiden Gallagher (21) was killed in the Omagh bomb on August 15, 1998.
Mr Gallagher said he hopes the inquiry will finally secure justice for all those affected by the Omagh bomb.
“We had all committed to this process and we could not give up. We felt that it was hugely important to get the public inquiry,” he said.
“Hopefully in this inquiry we will see the fruits of that. It’s not an easy task to apply yourself to. Over the past 25 years, it’s taken almost all of my time.
“Since we got the announcement of the inquiry, I felt like I could take my foot off the gas, because it was moving into the responsibility of other people then to get to the truth.
“We can of course provide all the information we do have and we will. Over the past year, for the first time, I’ve got into the garden, which I really enjoy.
“It’s very therapeutic — just to plant something and see it coming alive.
“I could never have committed the time to do that. I’m really happy we are on the trajectory we are on.”
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News Catch Up – Tuesday 4 February