An academic witness told the public inquiry that materials point to operational collaboration between dissident republican groups in the 1998 car bomb attack that killed 31 people.
An academic witness said it is likely the Real IRA and Continuity IRA had some form of operational co-operation in the Omagh bombing.
The Real IRA was newly formed in 1997 under figures including Michael McKevitt, with a small membership but significant operational experience.
The public inquiry is examining whether the bombing could reasonably have been prevented by UK state authorities and is focused on who planned and carried out the attack.
# What the inquiry heard
The public inquiry into the Omagh bombing heard on 22 September 2026 that there was likely "some form of operational co-operation" between the Real IRA and the Continuity IRA in relation to the 15 August 1998 car bomb that killed 31 people, including unborn twins, and injured hundreds.
John Morrison, an associate professor of criminology at Maynooth University, gave evidence as an expert on dissident republicanism. Morrison said the material he reviewed indicates collaboration at an organisational level, supporting the inquiry's working hypothesis that both the Real IRA and Continuity IRA planned and carried out the attack.
# Who the inquiry identified inside the Real IRA
# Debate over tactics and the move to car bombs
Witness evidence outlined internal disagreement over tactics. Frank McGuinness reportedly favoured attacks on military targets. Liam Campbell pressed for a car-bomb campaign, arguing bombs were cheap, simple to manufacture, and easy to transport. The inquiry heard that Campbell's approach prevailed.
Morrison said McGuinness accepted that car bombs in towns were liable to kill civilians — a point raised by lead counsel Paul Greaney during questioning.
# Reported alliances and the operational coalition
Greaney, acting as lead counsel to the inquiry, emphasised that while the Real IRA leadership were the lead instigators, evidence supports the likelihood of co-operation with other dissident groups.
# The inquiry's remit and next steps
Turnbull and was ordered by the UK government to determine whether state authorities could reasonably have prevented the atrocity. The third chapter, underway at the time of the hearing, focuses on how the bombing was carried out and on responsibility for planning and execution.
Expert witnesses scheduled during the chapter include those covering forensic methods available in 1997–98 and mobile phone cell site analysis. The inquiry's investigation of organisational links between dissident groups continues, and further testimony is expected in coming weeks.
# Why this matters now
The inquiry is assembling a detailed account of the networks and decisions that led to the Omagh bombing, including who inside dissident groups pushed for particular tactics and whether those groups acted alone or in concert. Its findings will feed into the broader question the inquiry must answer: could the attack have been prevented by state authorities?
Paul Greaney KC said a group of men were involved in the planning of the Real IRA attack in the Co Tyrone town.
The Omagh inquiry has heard that as many as 14 men were involved in the plot to bomb the Co Tyrone town in 1998 claiming 29 lives, including a woman and her unborn twins.
Analyst outlines people linked to bomb that killed 31, including unborn twins
Gardaí were unable to track progress of car stolen in Co Monaghan and used to transport Omagh bomb, inquiry told
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