THE inquiry into the 1998 bombing in Omagh town centre opened on Tuesday.

The bombing on August 15 1998 killed 29 people and was claimed three days later by a group identifying themselves as the Real IRA.

The Real IRA said at the time that its targets were “commercial” and issued an apology to “civilian” victims. But nobody has ever been convicted for the killings although Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt was found to be responsible in a 2009 civil case.

Three other men, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly were also found liable for what has been described by some as the worst atrocity of the Troubles.

The inquiry, which was established last year following a long legal battle by the victims’ families, will examine whether the atrocity could have been prevented with security forces heavily criticised over the years for its failures.  

Opening the inquiry chairman Lord Turnbull said the work of the body would be carried out “rigorously and fearlessly.”

He added that the trauma caused by the bombing “has been enduring and continues to have a most powerful impact.”

Ahead of the inquiry Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was one of the victims, described the bombing as “the largest security and intelligence failure in the history of Northern Ireland and there need to be answers about what went wrong.”