The report was published in December 2001.
Among the findings was that the judgement and leadership of the chief constable and the assistant chief constable had been seriously flawed and the chances of apprehending and convicting the bombers had been significantly reduced.
Baroness O’Loan explained that conclusion to the inquiry.
“The investigation was very quickly wound down by the police, you know? The number of officers involved and the way in which it was conducted – it was flawed. I think that’s accepted now.
“It seemed to me that there was a huge, huge problem there in terms of a fundamental investigation of the biggest tragedy of the Troubles was just left drifting.”
Another finding identified significant problems in relation to the receipt, recording, evaluation, handling and dissemination of intelligence information received by the security forces.
In particular, they mishandled information provided by an RUC informer who went by the name Kevin Fulton and warned his handlers about an imminent bombing.
In another example, Baroness O’Loan outlined how a warning call received by Omagh RUC on 4 August warning of an attack in Omagh on the 15 August – the day the bomb exploded – was dismissed by police.
“I think the dismissal of this as a fall out among smugglers, to me, that was bizarre and absurd,” she said.
“If you were involved in a forthcoming terrorist bomb of this kind and you wanted to get it stopped, you might decide that you would provide information which would be specific which would require action, with a specific date – the specific date.
“So you would want the police or military to take some action to prevent it.”