Lawyers at the Omagh Bombing Inquiry are examining whether fingerprint evidence from the 1998 atrocity was ever sent to New Scotland Yard, while a senior garda has told the hearing that investigators found little or no useful CCTV footage.
The evidence is being heard during the inquiry’s third chapter at Bradford Court in Belfast. This phase is examining how the bombing was carried out and who was responsible, as well as the investigative decisions that followed one of the worst atrocities of the Troubles.
What happened at the Omagh Bombing Inquiry?
Inquiry counsel Paul Greaney said the legal team understood that no fingerprint material connected with the bombing had been sent to New Scotland Yard, which was described during the hearing as the UK hub for terrorist fingerprint analysis.
Fingerprint expert Kevin Kershaw said he would have expected material from a terrorist attack of this nature to be submitted to London for specialist examination. However, he told the inquiry that the documents available to him contained no indication that this had happened.
The issue remains unresolved. The absence of a written record does not prove that evidence was never transferred, but the inquiry heard that a submission to New Scotland Yard would normally be expected to generate clear documentation.
Why the fingerprint evidence matters
Fingerprints can help investigators identify people who handled a vehicle, bomb components or other items connected to an attack. In a historic investigation, specialist analysis may also provide links between evidence recovered at different locations.
Mr Kershaw said he would have expected “a considerable amount of documentation” if material had been submitted. He also said the fingerprint hub would ordinarily retain clear records of submissions made by police forces.
The inquiry will therefore have to consider several possibilities:
- Whether fingerprint material was recovered and assessed locally.
- Whether it was sent to New Scotland Yard without the paperwork later being located.
- Whether the material was never submitted for specialist analysis.
- What effect any gap in the evidence trail may have had on the investigation.
Follow further coverage of Northern Ireland investigations and public accountability at DailyDigest.ie.
Omagh bombing investigation and the evidence heard
The car bomb exploded in the centre of Omagh on August 15th, 1998. Thirty-one people died, including unborn twins, and hundreds more were injured. The Real IRA claimed responsibility for the attack.
The inquiry, established in 2024 under Lord Alan Turnbull, is examining whether the bombing could reasonably have been prevented by British state authorities. Its current chapter is focused on the mechanics of the attack, the available evidence and the question of responsibility.
The proceedings are significant for victims’ families because they revisit investigative records and decisions made across jurisdictions after the explosion. They also place renewed attention on cooperation between authorities in Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Garda evidence highlights limits of 1998 CCTV
Garda Detective Superintendent Emmet Casserly gave evidence about the investigation conducted in the Republic after the bombing. His evidence covered house-to-house inquiries, a vehicle checkpoint near Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, and efforts to trace the car used to transport the bomb.
He said the investigation generated 1,077 separate lines of inquiry. Investigators took statements from more than 480 people, made 99 arrests and carried out 92 recorded searches.
Mr Casserly described information sharing between An Garda Síochána and the Royal Ulster Constabulary as seamless. However, he said investigators faced a major technological limitation: CCTV systems in 1998 were far less widespread and capable than those available today.
When asked whether Garda investigators had harvested CCTV footage that was useful to the inquiry, he confirmed they had not. He agreed that the absence of usable footage affected the team’s ability to identify suspects, establish the sequence of events and corroborate eyewitness accounts.
Why CCTV was significant
Modern investigations often rely on extensive digital footage from public spaces, businesses, transport networks and private security systems. In 1998, coverage was more limited, image quality was poorer and investigators had fewer ways to preserve and analyse recordings.
The evidence does not suggest that no cameras existed anywhere in the area. Rather, the inquiry heard that the Garda investigation team obtained little or no footage that was useful to its work. That distinction is important when assessing what investigators could realistically have established at the time.
What happens next in the Omagh inquiry?
The inquiry continues to hear evidence about the attack, the investigative response and the handling of material gathered by police and Gardaí. The question of whether fingerprints reached New Scotland Yard may depend on a detailed examination of surviving records held by the PSNI, British authorities and specialist forensic services.
At this stage, the hearing has not established that fingerprint evidence was lost, ignored or deliberately withheld. It has established that the inquiry team has not found documentation confirming a submission, while witnesses have described the records that would normally be expected.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Omagh bombing happen?
The bombing took place in the centre of Omagh on August 15th, 1998.
How many people died?
Thirty-one people died, including unborn twins. Hundreds of people were injured.
What is the inquiry examining?
The inquiry is examining whether the bombing could reasonably have been prevented by British state authorities. Its third chapter is focused on how the attack was carried out and who was responsible.
Was fingerprint evidence definitely not sent to Scotland Yard?
No. Lawyers said they had found no document confirming that it was sent, but the inquiry has not ruled out the possibility that a submission took place without the relevant paperwork being located.
Why this evidence matters
The latest evidence underlines the difficulty of investigating a complex terrorist attack before today’s digital tools became widely available. It also raises questions about forensic record-keeping, cross-border cooperation and whether potentially important evidence received the specialist examination expected at the time.
The Omagh Bombing Inquiry will continue to assess the evidence before reaching conclusions. For victims and families, the proceedings remain an important examination of what happened, what investigators knew and whether anything could have been done differently.
The key takeaway is that no final finding has been made about the fingerprint material. The inquiry is still testing whether evidence was submitted, how it was documented and what impact that may have had on the search for answers after Omagh.
