Commemorative Hearings to begin in Omagh on 28 January 

The Omagh Bombing Inquiry will commence four weeks of Commemorative and Personal Statement Hearings in Strule Arts Centre in Omagh on 28 January 2025.  

The Commemorative and Personal Statements hearings are the first oral hearings held by the Inquiry.  The hearings have two key purposes: 

First, to commemorate publicly each person who was killed in the bombing. This will take the form of ‘pen portraits’ to explain who each person who died was in life, recognise their individuality and allow family members to set out the impact of their death and the atrocity. 

Second, to hear personal statements from those who were injured in or were directly affected by the bombing. This will recognise the wider impact of the atrocity on the community in Omagh and beyond. 

The hearings are currently scheduled to run from 28 January and are expected to end by 20 February 2025. The Inquiry will sit for four days a week Monday to Thursday and will hear approximately four commemorations or personal statements a day.  

The exception to this is the first week which will run from Tuesday 28 January to Thursday 30 January. Hearings will ordinarily start at 10am.  

The schedule for the hearings is available on the Hearings Page.

Support

The Inquiry is working with WAVE Trauma Centre to provide support to anyone who requires it during the hearing. Counsellors will be available inside the Strule Arts Centre to provide any support required during the hearing. You can read more about support services on the Inquiry Website, including further guidance and help with the steps you could take to manage the emotional impact of attending the commemorative hearings.   

More guidance on how to follow the hearings is available in the hearing attendance guide.