An independent inquiry into the events surrounding the Omagh Bomb will take place, it has been announced.

Some 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, were killed when a Dissident Republican bomb exploded on August 15, 1998.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris told the House of Commons last Thursday, February 2, that he is establishing the inquiry in response to a court judgment that directed the Government to carry out some form of investigation into alleged security failings.

Locally, the announcement was met with a “guarded welcome” by a Lisnaskea-based victims and survivors organisation.

Kenny Donaldson, South East Fermanagh Foundation's (SEFF) Director of Services, said: "We give a guarded welcome to the news that there is to be a statutory inquiry into the Omagh Bombing, and we acknowledge the campaigning efforts of families down the years in regards to this.”

He continued: “If there are lessons to be learnt by the security and intelligences on both sides of the Border which could help decrease the likelihood of an event like Omagh ever occurring again, then that is something certainly worth doing.

"The Irish State now needs to play catch-up and announce reciprocal arrangements in respect of its jurisdiction - this is essential so as to produce the fullest possible picture.”

Concluding, he said: “29 civilians and unborn twins were needlessly murdered that fareful day, and not because of ineptitude on the part of the security forces and intelligence agencies, whatever findings are made as part of the statutory inquiry, but because terrorists brought a bomb into a busy market town on a Saturday afternoon.”

Also reacting last Thursday was Fermanagh South Tyrone UUP MLA, Tom Elliott, who said:“Now that the UK Government have set out their next steps, I would be interested to hear from the Irish government on how they intend to deal with their clear responsibilities to providing answers, given the strong cross-Border element to this bomb attack.

"The same judgement that has laid the path for today’s announcement by the Secretary of State of an independent statutory review also made clear that the Irish government should take similar steps."

He claimed: "They have been poor in fulfilling their responsibilities when it comes to terrorism that emanated from south of the Border; they cannot be found wanting again in this instance.

“Of course, the responsibility ultimately is on the lap of those who planned and planted the bomb in Omagh.

"It is vital that the families of those murdered in this vile act of terror have every opportunity to seek truth and justice.”