Omagh Transcript

The transcript that proves police were warned of the bombers' plans
By Neil Mackay 


THE tape suggests that the RUC were warned in advance of the Omagh bombing, by one of its most highly placed intelligence sources, that the atrocity was planned. On the tape an undercover British agent inside the IRA, who goes by the cover-name Kevin Fulton, is speaking to his RUC handler. It's recorded some time after the Omagh bombing of 1998 which killed 29 people. The Sunday Herald has chosen not to reveal the name of the officer for security reasons. However, he did work with the RUC's elite C-16 unit which targets terrorist racketeering. The conversation on the tape unfolds like this: 

Kevin: Hello you boy ye' -- how you doin'? 

Officer: Jesus [uses Kevin's real name], what about ye? They make small talk. 

Kevin: Do you remember the stuff I gave you about [names one of the Omagh bombers]? 

Officer: Oh yes, I do. 

Kevin: Do you remember the night I phoned you about the jackets and stuff? [He is referring to bullet proof vests he supplied to republicans later linked to the Omagh bombing.] 

Officer: I remember you phoning that night. 

Kevin: See I'm gonna have to give this info ... The tape is then unintelligible. 

Kevin: But do you remember the whole thing anyway? 

Officer: We don't always put everything in [meaning the forwarding of intelligence to senior RUC and military personnel], but I do remember bits and pieces. 

Kevin: Do you remember about the Omagh thing and me meeting [name of Omagh bomber] in Dundalk? Do you remember I told you something big was gonna happen because [name of Omagh bomber] was mixing a bomb? 

Officer: I would need to check my exact notes. 

Kevin: But you remember Omagh anyway? 

Officer: Oh I definitely remember Omagh alright. I definitely remember the warning you gave me about Newry [referring to previous intelligence on republican operations Kevin passed to his handlers]. 

Kevin: Remember I saw [name of Omagh bomber] that night in the [name of a bar] in Dundalk and then later on I rang you and asked if you put that in? 

Officer: I do remember something along those lines, but I would need to check my notes for the exact dates and times. I would need to check exactly what time you phoned. 

Kevin: When will you be able to check? 

Officer: I will be able to check this afternoon. 

Kevin: Do you want me to ring you later on?  They make small talk again briefly.
 
Officer: Give me until three o'clock because I will need to compile all the files. 

Kevin: I need to be sure you put it in and I'm confident that you did. 

Officer: Och, I'm sure I did. 

Kevin: Well thanks then. 

Officer: Well cheers, man. Speak to you later.

Neil Mackay - The Sunday Herald