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Forensic investigation into Omagh bombing was 'efficient', inquiry hears
Overview
A forensic science expert, Professor Angela Gallop, has told the Omagh Bombing Inquiry that the forensic investigation into the 1998 Omagh bombing was conducted efficiently despite the extreme complexity of the case. The inquiry is examining whether the atrocity, which killed 29 people, could have been prevented by UK state authorities. Gallop noted that while the lead explosive scientist did not use a formal investigation strategy, his approach was common at the time and he performed exceptionally well under difficult circumstances. However, the inquiry also heard about resource constraints at the Forensic Science Agency Northern Ireland in 1998, and that later advancements in DNA and fibre forensics came too late to mitigate contamination risks for items already examined.
Key points
- Professor Angela Gallop told the Omagh Bombing Inquiry that the forensic investigation into the 1998 bombing was 'efficient'.
- Twenty-nine people died in the Omagh bombing on 15 August 1998, the biggest single atrocity in the Troubles.
- The bulk of the 1998 investigation was carried out by the Forensic Science Agency Northern Ireland (FSANI).
- The inquiry heard that FSANI faced a scale-back of resources following the 1994 ceasefire, leaving only one on-call explosives scientist on leave at the time of the Omagh attack.
- Gallop stated that although the scene examiner did not follow a formal investigation strategy, his experienced approach was very common at the time.
- New forensic techniques like DNA and fibre analysis emerged within two years, but were of limited use for Omagh due to the risk of evidence contamination from 1998 standards.