OMAGH — 1998 · Major Tragedy
Omagh Bombing
On the afternoon of 15 August 1998, a car bomb packed with fertiliser-based explosives detonated in Omagh's crowded shopping street. Because of unclear warnings, police had unknowingly moved people towards the bomb. Twenty-nine people died and around 220 were injured, making it the deadliest single attack of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The Real IRA, a group opposed to the Good Friday Agreement, claimed responsibility. No criminal conviction has stood, but in 2009 the families won a civil case holding four men liable. An independent public inquiry into whether the attack could have been prevented is ongoing.
- Date
- 1998
- Place
- County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, Omagh, UK
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Under Investigation
- Coordinates
- 54.5977, -7.2995 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 15 August 1998A car bomb exploded in central Omagh; 29 people died.
- 2007The only defendant in the criminal trial was acquitted.
- June 2009The families won a civil case holding four men liable.
- 2023The government announced an independent inquiry into whether the bombing was preventable.
- 2025–2026Hearings of the inquiry chaired by Lord Turnbull continued.
Sources
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.