Home   News   National   Article

Government ministers to attend Omagh bombing 25th anniversary memorial service


By PA News

Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!

British and Irish government ministers are set to attend a memorial service for the 25th anniversary of the Omagh bombing.

The dissident republican attack in 1998 devastated the Co Tyrone village, killing 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, and injuring hundreds of others.

It came just months after the historic Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and was the greatest loss of life in a single incident in Northern Ireland’s troubled past.

No-one has ever been criminally convicted of the attack.

A total of 29 people died in the Omagh bomb blast (Paul McErlane/PA)
A total of 29 people died in the Omagh bomb blast (Paul McErlane/PA)

In 2009, following a landmark civil case taken by families of some of the victims, a judge ruled that five people were all liable for the bomb and ordered them to pay damages.

This year’s memorial service comes following the granting of an independent statutory inquiry into the atrocity.

The service is taking place on the closest Sunday to the anniversary date of August 15.

Northern Ireland Office minister Lord Caine and Irish Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence Peter Burke are among those to attend the event at the memorial garden in Omagh later.

A prayer will be read in English, Irish and Spanish during the service in respect of the victims of the bomb, which include a child from Spain and children from Co Donegal.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.

Keep up-to-date with important news from your community, and access exclusive, subscriber only content online. Read a copy of your favourite newspaper on any device via the HNM App.

Learn more


This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More