FIRST Minister and UUP leader David Trimble pressed the British Government for tougher security legislation following the Omagh bomb in August 1998.
A meeting between Mr Trimble and NIO Minister Paul Murphy and officials took place on August 21, 1998 – less than a week after the Real IRA exploded a 300 pound car bomb in Omagh, killing 29 people and unborn twins.
Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness described the dissidents’ action as "indefensible".
Three days later, the Irish government announced plans for new security measures, including restricting a suspect’s right to silence.
Under new legislation, the word of a senior Garda officer could help indict suspected members of illegal organisations.
At the meeting with Mr Trimble, Mr Murphy said Prime Minister Tony Blair was considering the UUP leader’s security policy suggestions.
Mr Trimble said he understood the potential embarrassment for the Secretary of State (Dr Mo Mowlam) if she had to re-enact anti-terrorist legislation which she had recently repealed. But he said primary legislation was needed to sustain public confidence.
He said legislation must be enacted at Westminster in parallel with the Dáil in order to prevent "a safe haven for the Real IRA in Northern Ireland".
Mr Murphy said the courts in Northern Ireland may not be willing to convict members of an illegal organisation based on the word of a senior RUC officer.
But Mr Trimble said the UK Government had no alternative because of the action being taken by the Irish government.
