Overview

• The public inquiry into the 1998 Omagh bombing, Northern Ireland's deadliest attack during the Troubles, has officially begun, with hearings scheduled over the next four weeks.
• Families of the 29 victims and survivors will provide testimony, commemorating loved ones and sharing the lasting impact of the attack, which injured over 220 people.
• The inquiry, chaired by Lord Alan Turnbull, will investigate whether British and Irish intelligence agencies and police could have prevented the bombing by acting on prior information.
• The Real IRA, a dissident Republican group, claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred just four months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement; no one has been criminally convicted for the bombing.
• Key aspects include examining intelligence-sharing protocols, alleged missed warnings, and the role of wiretaps and vehicle monitoring in the lead-up to the attack.