The detective who led the Omagh bombing investigation has told an inquiry that he believes the individual who transported the bomb was an agent for both the UK security services agency MI5 and the gardaí (Irish police).
Retired Ch Supt Norman Baxter gave evidence to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry on Friday, 13 November 2026. He stated that during the investigation, it became apparent an individual was a Garda agent, and in one operation, there was a high potential he was jointly handled by security services.
Mr Baxter also expressed his belief that intelligence services were aware of the bombers' activity before the Omagh bombing on 15 August 1998. He said he formed the view that Special Branch, the security service, and GCHQ knew the identities of some, if not all, suspects prior to the bombing.
He further alleged that the gardaí allowed bombs to be taken across the border into Northern Ireland and that the Irish government had information a bombing was imminent. Mr Baxter concluded that the Omagh bombers had "free rein" from mid-1997 and authorities allowed this to continue, despite opportunities to disrupt the group.
Michael Gallagher, whose son was killed in the 1998 Real IRA attack, described Mr Baxter's evidence as "difficult to listen to, but hugely important to hear."