Inquiry hears recorded testimony confirming stolen Vauxhall used in Omagh bombing

The Omagh Bombing Inquiry, chaired by Lord Turnbull, presented a pre-recorded testimony from Detective Superintendent Emmet Casserly of the Special Detective Unit of An Garda Síochána, confirming that the car carrying the 1998 bomb was a Vauxhall Cavalier with registration 91DL 2554 stolen from a house in Carrickmacross between 11 pm on August 12 and 3.30 am on August 13. The statement, recorded in Dublin and shown in Belfast, detailed the Garda’s immediate reporting to local stations and a daily “standardised report” sent to the RUC on August 13.

Paul Greaney KC, lead counsel, criticised the evidentiary format for lacking live questioning and highlighted that the Irish government allowed only limited follow-up, directing further queries through statutory channels. Garda searches at the theft scene yielded no useful leads, and despite public appeals, the vehicle’s whereabouts remain unknown due to insufficient descriptions and CCTV. The inquiry continues to pursue unanswered questions about the bombing’s execution and whether it could have been prevented by UK authorities.