Downing Street Focuses On NI

Northern Ireland matters were highlighted at No 10 yesterday.

PM Gordon Brown was first urged to reject plans for a controversial recognition payment for families of dead terrorists with a petition calling on him to reject proposals announced last month by the Consultative Group on the Past.

The online petition was created by DUP Councillor William Walker.

On the same day, the PM was then involved in a tense face-to-face meeting with grieving Omagh bomb families anxious for justice.

In what was later described as a "heated" meeting, Gordon Brown told the relatives of the Omagh bomb victims that he would consider their calls for a cross-border inquiry into the atrocity.

The five families were told, however, there was no fresh evidence that would help them pursue a prosecution.

However, UK Business Secretary Peter Mandelson, who donated £10,000 to a campaign to sue the alleged bombers, was brought in for the talks, which the families saw as a positive move.

Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was one of the 29 people killed in the 1998 blast, said a resolution needed to be found that would help the families.

"Lord Mandelson has always been someone who supported the civil action. It was good to see him there," Mr Gallagher said.

On the PM, the grieving dad said: "The Prime Minister was very generous in the time he gave us and we were very frank in our views.

"For the families there still remains many questions," he said, after the PM said he "would reflect on what he had heard".

The families made it clear they are unhappy with the outcome of a report by Sir Peter Gibson the Intelligence Services Commissioner, who found that information on the bombers had been shared with RUC Special Branch but it could not have stopped the 1998 attack.

Mr Gallagher said: "We urged him to look again at assisting us in the civil action. The only way forward for the families is a full cross-border inquiry. He said he would consider that."

The PM's invitation was extended after an independent report dismissed claims made in a documentary that British intelligence officers had monitored the bombers' phone calls, but failed to pass information to detectives.

See: Eames-Bradley Proposals Slammed

(BMcC/JM)