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I have no idea why they didn't act. We've both agreed before that Dublin and London see NI as a thorn. Who's to say that Dublin didn't give a heads up to the Security Forces. Republican groups training in the Republic isn't all that uncommon. Their own little songbird gave them all the intel they could possibly use and they still refused to acknowledge it. I doubt if Dublin knew all the specifics that Kevin-boy did. If the body count had not been so high and foreign nationals not been killed this would have been swept under the rug like everything else that goes on here. There is no true justice here and I doubt if there ever will be. Until everyone can admit to wrong-doings and atrocities, things will continue on the same violent path.

According to Garda sources there was information that the "Real IRA" was preparing explosives near Kilcock, Co Meath, in the weeks before the Omagh bombing and that sufficient explosive for two bombs - more than 1,000 lbs of fertiliser and sugar mix - was transported in a stolen car to the Border. It is understood that this car was under surveillance at some point but that it was lost at or near the Border crossing near Cullaville in south Armagh.

Half of the explosive was then taken to a test firing site in the Cooley Mountains and detonated just over a week before the attack on Omagh.

There were other clear indications that the "Real IRA" was planning a major attack and that the likely target would be a town centre. Two weeks to the day before Omagh the "Real IRA" had come near to causing carnage in its attack on Banbridge, Co Down.

What would George Bush have recommended? An attack on the Republic as a harbourer of terrorists?

There is no true justice here and I doubt if there ever will be.

It's difficult to have justice when it is alleged that the two Governments instructed the police via the Secretariat of London and Dublin officials not to ruffle paramilitary feathers following the signing of the Agreement mid-1998. It's also alleged that parts of the police service were only operating Monday-Friday 9-5 to save money.

There is no true justice here and I doubt if there ever will be.

It's difficult to have justice when it is alleged that the two Governments instructed the police via the Secretariat of London and Dublin officials not to ruffle paramilitary feathers following the signing of the Agreement mid-1998. They sometimes could only observe but not intervene. Apparently such a strategy was necessary to 'protect the peace process'. It's also alleged that parts of the police service were only operating Monday-Friday 9-5 to save money.