'Omagh could not have been prevented'

A review into claims that the British secret service was monitoring dissident republicans as they drove the Omagh bomb to its target has dismissed reports that the explosion could have been prevented.

A BBC investigation claimed that the British Government's main communications surveillance station had been monitoring mobile phone calls being made by the bombers as they drove to Omagh.

The families were outraged and demanded a public inquiry.

Instead, the British Government asked the Intelligence Services Commissioner, Sir Peter Gibson, to inquire into the claims.

His report, published today, says any information on the bombers taken from telephone intercepts was passed to police and could not have prevented the atrocity.

Mr Gibson also says he has seen no evidence that Gardai had warned the PSNI of any likely attack.

Taken from the Belfast Telegraph