The Omagh Bombing Inquiry is a statutory independent public inquiry, established in 2024 by the UK Government to consider whether the bombing in Omagh, County Tyrone, on 15 August 1998 could reasonably have been prevented by UK state authorities. You can read more about the Inquiry’s role in its Terms of Reference and on the Frequently Asked Questions page.
The Inquiry is led by the Rt Hon Lord Turnbull. You can find out more about Lord Turnbull and his team here.
Chairman – The Rt Hon Lord Turnbull
Lord Turnbull was appointed as a judge of the Court of Session and High Court of Justiciary in Scotland in 2006. He was appointed to the Inner House of the Court of Session and Court of Appeal in 2016. Whilst in practice at the Scottish Bar he was instructed as one of the two Senior Counsel for the Crown in the Lockerbie Bombing case conducted at the Scottish Court in the Netherlands. For the five years preceding his appointment to the Bench he served as the Principal Crown Counsel for Scotland.
Secretary to the Inquiry – Sam Hartley
As Secretary to the Inquiry, Sam is responsible for setting up and leading the Inquiry’s secretariat, and supporting Lord Turnbull in his role as Chairman. He also acts as the main contact between the Inquiry and the UK Government’s Northern Ireland Office, protecting the Inquiry Chairman and the Inquiry’s independence.
Sam has a background in senior leadership in the public sector. Before being appointed to lead the Omagh Bombing Inquiry secretariat, he was Deputy Secretary and Director of Policy, Research and Analysis at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry. He has previously led the Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise, and the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England. He has a wider background in the constitutional and regulatory fields, and has held senior roles in healthcare and constitutional regulators, as well as in the UK Cabinet Office.
Solicitor to the Inquiry – Tim Suter
Tim Suter is a partner at Fieldfisher LLP and has been appointed as Solicitor to the Inquiry. He has extensive experience of advising on independent inquiries, investigations and inquests. Tim recently acted as the solicitor to Manchester Arena Inquiry. He has also previously acted as solicitor to the Hillsborough Inquests and Birmingham 1974 pub bombings inquests, and as deputy solicitor to the inquests into the London Bombings of 7 July 2005 and the public inquiry into the death of the Russian dissident, Alexander Litvinenko.
Counsel to the Inquiry – Paul Greaney KC
Paul Greaney KC is Counsel to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry. He practises from New Park Court Chambers in Leeds, where he specialises in public inquiries and inquests, serious crime and regulatory law. Paul was Counsel to the Manchester Arena Inquiry and has been involved in a series of high profile inquests, public inquiries and trials over many years. This includes the Hillsborough Inquests, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, the Deepcut Inquest and Football Association disciplinary proceedings relating to, among other players Luis Suarez and Nicolas Anelka. He has prosecuted a substantial number of terrorism cases (including those involving allegations of murder) and has defended in many high profile cases.