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Table of contents

  1. PREAMBLE
  2. PENAL NOTICE

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RESTRICTION ORDER PURSUANT TO SECTION 19 OF THE INQUIRIES ACT 2005 FOR THE CHAPTER 3 EVIDENCE HEARINGS ON 29 SEPTEMBER AND 1 OCTOBER 2026

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OBI - Restriction Order for Chapter 3 hearings on 29 September and 1 October 2026 (PDF, 86.1 KB)

The Chairman has the power under section 19 of the Inquiries Act 2005 (“the Act”) to make orders restricting attendance at a hearing and on the disclosure, or publication, of evidence and documents given, produced or provided to the Inquiry.

Any threat to break such an order, or any breach of it, can be certified to the High Court or Court of Session under section 36 of the Act, which will deal with it as though the breach had occurred in proceedings before that court, and may be punishable by a fine or committal to prison.

PREAMBLE (Back to top)

During the Chapter 3 hearings on 29 September and 1 October 2026, the Inquiry will hear evidence in relation to Parts 5 and 6. This involves the events of the day in Omagh immediately before and after the bombing and will include the playing of recordings of two radio transmissions, timed at 14.35 and 15.04, about the evacuation of Omagh up to and beyond the moment of detonation (“the Recordings”).

In exercise of the power under section of the Act and following a procedural hearing on 29 September 2026, IT IS ORDERED THAT:

  1. the audio of the Recordings shall be heard in the hearing room and real-time links available to Core Participants only.
  2. the audio of the Recordings shall be muted on the Inquiry’s YouTube channel, both as broadcast and as retained on the Inquiry’s website.
  3. there shall be no publication, broadcast, or dissemination to the public of the audio of the Recordings played in the Inquiry hearing.
  4. The audio played in the Inquiry hearing must not be published in any form by any Core Participant, the Recognised Legal Representative of any Core Participant, the media or member of the public.
  5. This Order remains in force for the duration of the Inquiry and at all times thereafter, unless otherwise ordered.

PENAL NOTICE (Back to top)

Any breach of this Order, failure to comply with it or threat to do so, can be certified to the High Court or the Court of Session under section 36 of the Act. A Court will deal with any breach, failure to comply, or threat of failure to comply as though it had occurred in proceedings before that Court.

The High Court and the Court of Session have the power to imprison or fine for any breach of this Order.

Rt. Hon. Lord Turnbull
29 September 2026