The Omagh Bombing Inquiry has postponed its next public hearings by six months. Lead counsel Paul Greaney KC announced the change during a procedural hearing in Belfast. The sessions, focused on the days before and after the 1998 bombing in Co Tyrone, will now start on 21 September instead of 9 March.

Core participants received notice of the delay on 6 March. Greaney stated that one factor was the unavailability of material from the Republic of Ireland in time for the original date. The inquiry has received a large volume of documents from An Garda Síochána, with over 20,000 pages already disclosed and processed.

Disclosure of this material continues on a rolling basis, with full completion expected by June. Greaney noted discussions with the Irish government facilitated the process. He described An Garda Síochána as responsive to requests and meeting processing deadlines.

The Chapter 3 hearings will last about four weeks and cover bomb construction, warning calls, claims of responsibility, arrests, and court proceedings. A recent statement from the Police Service of Northern Ireland lists suspects and evidence against them.

Access to sensitive national security documents poses challenges. Greaney said digital terminals for secure viewing in Northern Ireland will not be ready until late April, followed by IT setup. Temporary arrangements were made with the Northern Ireland Office.

The inquiry holds nearly 450,000 pages of open disclosure material. Greaney said extra resources are in place to recover lost time. The inquiry, chaired by Alan Turnbull, assesses if UK authorities could have prevented the Real IRA car bomb that killed 29 people in Omagh on 15 August 1998.