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FORMER JUSTICE MINISTER Charlie Flanagan has raised concerns about the failure of the government in Ireland to commission its own inquiry into the Omagh bombing.
Flanagan, who also served as Minister for Foreign Affairs, predicted that vital intelligence information held by the Republic of Ireland may not be made available to the UK inquiry into the Real IRA outrage.
Earlier today, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald also called on the government to set up its own inquiry.
There is a significant cross-jurisdictional element to the investigation into the 1998 Omagh bomb, as the attackers travelled across the border ahead of the devastating blast in Co Tyrone.
The UK government commissioned a judge-led inquiry, which commenced substantive hearings in Omagh last week, in response to a High Court ruling in Belfast that directed the state to act to investigate alleged security failings in the lead-up to the bombing, which killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins.
While having no jurisdiction to order the Irish government to act on the matter, in his 2021 judgment Mr Justice Horner urged authorities south of the border to establish their own parallel probe.
The Irish government declined to do so and has instead repeatedly pledged full co-operation with the UK inquiry.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris reiterated that commitment during the week as the hearings got under way.
Their stance has been questioned by several of the bereaved families who have raised concerns that key information from Ireland may never be aired at the UK inquiry.
Flanagan has now voiced his own misgivings about the government’s approach.
In an interview with RTÉ News, the now retired Fine Gael politician said: “A parallel inquiry was imminently desirable because it would have allowed both jurisdictions to proceed at more or less the same pace.”
Flanagan said he feared some information may not be handed to the UK probe on the grounds of Irish national security.
“I accept fully what Micheal Martin and Simon Harris have consistently said about the Irish Government co-operating fully with the inquiry, but I think an opportunity has been lost by not having a parallel process,” he said.
“It would have been grounded in our own legislation and been based on statute passed by the Dáil, and the inquiry chairman could have worked in tandem with the UK statutory inquiry and that would have allowed any gaps to be closed. My fear now is that there will be gaps.
“I am concerned that the Irish state will overuse national security, that they will use national security issues too liberally.”
While the current inquiry can compel former and current members of the UK security forces to give evidence, it has no such authority over similar potential witnesses in the Republic of Ireland.
“Under the current UK terms of reference, while the Irish Government says it will not be found wanting, my concern is that we will not be able to square that circle on compellability and that vital evidence may not be forthcoming,” said Flanagan.
McDonald was asked on Sunday whether she agreed with the position articulated by Flanagan.
“I do agree with him and I agree with the families concerned who have been calling for this from the get-go, we’ve been making this case since as far back as 2010,” she told RTÉ Radio One’s This Week programme.
“There is clearly a challenge and an issue in terms of compellability. So, we need to do everything that is necessary to make sure that this inquiry is successful.”
The Sinn Féin leader added: “So changes that need to be made, moves that need to be made here in Dublin should be taken without a delay.”
Asked about the issue as the first hearings began on Tuesday, the Taoiseach said: “I’ve made it very clear that we have to co-operate fully with the inquiry team, just as we did in previous inquiries, where we passed legislation to enable us to provide information to such either inquests or inquiries.”
Harris also moved to offer reassurance to the families.
“I want to be categoric here that the Irish Government will ensure full co-operation with the inquiry,” the Tánaiste said on a visit to Belfast on Tuesday.
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Irish Hip Hop ..seriously …. like Zimbabwe skiing team :))
@Andro Štruca: no it isn’t. Should we only produce trad music? Irish society is now diverse, our music should reflect this.
Sure why not Irish Hip Hop? It’s when white Irish Hip Hop people act like they are black is where I draw the line.
@Arnold Lane: what about a black irish rapper acting white? Now thats where i draw the line
@Arnold Lane: @cp: doesnt matter if your black or white, if you can fight, prefer to use a gun or a mic, its all about might, the will to drop bombs like bush did on all of allahs sons , the might to fight back when isis blew the shit out of Iraq, The might to forget where we came from the slaying thay we gave son one world that no god can divide we were born to live and where living to.die. does not matter the colour of our skin, if the rings roped up will you jump in, mic on mic hand to hand ye boys want to check yer shit man.so on directional probably sitting at home.watching high school musical. With pimples on yer face go to bed and stop worrying about a persons race. Life is life we all gone live it so grow up n stop acting like children
Who “scoffed”? “They”? It’s been a good scene always, and recognised as such always.
@Mike Igoe: Agree! Who ‘scoffed’?
@George Hogan: I scoffed a little… sorry guys
@Liam flag: Fake Liam!
@George Hogan: Nope. I’m the real deal baby
@Mike Igoe: Not true whatsoever, there has always been plenty of talent but the thought of Irish boys rapping for the most part has seemed ridiculous to the general public!
Wud be nice if youd tell us where these gigs happen
@Boo!: look it up yourself.
@Boo!: I left a reply but it does not seem to have posted, maybe due to Facebook links? Are you in Dublin?
On 16th September alone Cuttin Heads & Shaool from This Side Up will be putting on Jehst in the Grand Social, Roots Manuva will be in the Sugar Club and Underground Collective will be putting on a load of local talent in a similar vein to the Truth About Irish Hip-Hop gig in the Sound House / Wiley Fox.
Anybody in Belfast, we are putting on Jehst as the headliner for our third hip-hop showcase of the year in Voodoo.
Hope that helps
Lemonade was a popular drink and it still is. I got more props and stunts than Bruce Willis.
The projects in crumlin is where it all began.
Check out.. This Side Up.. From Sligo. Da biz.
@Patrick J. O’Rourke:
Track by Limerick based Hip Hop outfit Bullitz in 2005 Talks about life living around a fueding city. Titled The GraveYard
https://youtu.be/I1bhqUKrX0g
Be interesting if other people could post old Irish Hip Hop track people might not have heard
But I thought cultural appropriation was supposed to make you a right wing bigot or something. Is the journal promoting racism now?
Your brother eh??? Good!! We have some brilliant talent here. I’m delighted the Rusangano family getting a mention as they are brill!!!
No matter what, it sounds brutal. Your man from Original Rudeboys with his poxy hammed-up dub accent is like a cheese grater to my eardrums. Absolute cringe worthy every time he opens his mouth.
@Jimmy Ireland: I would agree with you Jimmy the Irish accent dies not do a rap song justice. But the lyrics from most rappers where grear like of rob kelly redzer would have made it alot farther had they not had big thick irsh accents
There’s definitely a lot of good things happening for hip hop here at the mo.
For what it’s worth people can check out my tracks here..
https://soundcloud.com/user-18591602
https://newcicero.bandcamp.com/
@New Cicero: good production, and great lyrics.
What about RÌRà? One of the best hip hop artists ever to come out of Ireland. Check this out if you want to hear a uniquely Irish sound:https://youtu.be/aCpQXA_x6GE
Check out Redzer, pretty good rapper. Terawrizt is another good irish rapper. Raw Soul has great tracks but don’t think he raps any more. Nash is from Cork, the accent is mad but still sounds good. The journal should do a story on irish battle rap, used to be a league, DFI. The battles should still be on YouTube.
@Drew P. Baulsach: any link to the battles,redzer was whacking it out on the dublin underground about ten years back sound old skin talented but no one want to here d thick irish accents on tracks including my own pity as some good lyricists would have got if they didnt have a big.thick accent
@James O Keeffe: yeah true that alright! I always enjoyed it, I can’t relate to the American rappers yacking on about their millions and slangin crack, but I can relate to a song about tallaght or that tune “gerrup outta that”. Here’s a playlist for the DFI Battles: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2A2A34F8BB3E21C0
@Drew P. Baulsach: Redzer was whacking it out on the dublin underground scene long time ago good rapper sound old skin and links to those battles be a crack to hear em. Check out these lads down in limerick newly formed really irish hip hop called P19 there mixing trad music with hip hop beats and its sick as fcuk
https://m.facebook.com/RealIrishhiphop/
When your having a bad day, just remember that there is someone from your home town still trying to become a rapper…..
Cheers for the mention for Waking Android, our debut EP can be found here if you wanna check it out
https://wakingandroid.bandcamp.com/album/adrenochrome
https://www.facebook.com/WakingAndroid/
Some great comments from the public here too. The boys mentioned in this article get to go all round the place rocking big crowds doing something they love. I’m sure you have achieved a lot in life though!
Bass Odyssey from the 90s should get a mention. Strict then formed Arm The Elderly.
@Carlin Ite: Yes. They were brilliant live.
Check out Sons Phonetic. Absolutely unbelievable!
“Used to”
https://youtu.be/9QtU7-2JLmw went on to do a sh!t load of work with kids and youth groups. Still producing.
@Dave O Keeffe: remember him fair play doing work with the youth clubs giving back to the young lads in cork
Part of the problem is that so much of what’s I hear from Irish/UK/white boy hip hop is derivative of 90s boom bap rap in style and in content.
The second I hear some angry little scally rap about life growing up on an estate I just switch off. That’s not today their story isn’t valid but it’s boring (at least to me).
Hip hop nowadays has moved on. Kendrick isn’t rapping about petty street bullshit from his teen years, he’s examining identity and he’s doing it in an exciting, entertaining and thoughtful way.
UK hip hop lost me for similar reasons in the early 2000s. Grime on the other hand is exciting and is producing some real gold (albeit with a lot of shit also).
I agree with your man. The exciting things happening in Ireland are coming from the recent immigrants. Their identity in modern Irish society gives them something unique to talk about.
Give that a rattle
@Rob Hill: Give this a rattle –
The best to do it here scaryeire. No false American accents. Very reggae influenced.
@Dillon Kalen: Rock on Siobhan stop actin the ámadan. Yep, they were proper good. DJ Mek a brilliant producer and turntablist to boot.
MC Pat Flynn, MC Lynchy?
I played at the Truth About Irish Hip Hop gig.Great night with loads of talent!Everyone is working hard behind the scenes and everyones getting lyrically and creativally better.And visually everybody’s stepping it up.When the Irish get behind it and accept it the rest of the world will too!
Anyway here’s my album ‘The War Within’ anyway if you would like to buy a copy all money goes to getting people in Louth Mental Health Counselling!
https://steoskitz.bandcamp.com/album/the-war-within
If you could give me a like on Facebook ‘steo skitz’ it would be appreciated too!
“straight outta Crumlin, a crazy hoor called Michael from a band called paddys with pints…”
@Andro Štruca: shut your hole you gome and where is it you call home. Andros your man tho knows irish hip hop and hes probably from orlando.your not irish either bro probably tossing at home to dido, its life tho people hating on talent divides those , fakes who pose no threat hiding behind there iphone what you know about sytle bro racism is dead so shut you pie hole before you die slow guiltones chopped heads but sure what do I know mano y mano keep your lips sealed about rugsano you jealous little a hole. The Irish like us does not matter where they came from not shut your mouth up because I said so.
I’m not a fan of hip hop/rap etc… but look to literary history.
Rap is about expressing oneself with words.
How many Irish are counted around the finest English-language wordsmiths ever too have lived?
No mention of Rejjie Snow?!
A bizarre omission.
No disrespect to the acts mentioned in the article – all credit to them – but a 30-second review of YouTube views shows that Rejjie Snow’s (literally) ten times bigger than most of them. And brilliant with it.
I find the white Irish rappers are much better than the Africans which I thought was very interesting.
@Rex Facer: I hear you’re a racist now Father…
Messiah J and the expert there’s a blast from the past, Jazz FM!
Everyone please check out Skripteh’s new EP at http://www.skripteh.bandcamp.com you won’t be disappointed!! He is a 16yo Irish hip hop artist!
We you to ask for a. “Recitation,”I’d say rapping was going on since mankind got a communal fire going.
@Zozzy Zozimus: Agreed. Surprised to see his admission, as he is the most renowned Irish rapper in the US and UK.
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