The first hearing into the public inquiry into the Omagh bombing has started.

Its chairman Lord Alan Turnbull is likely to set out the inquiry’s direction during a day of proceedings in the County Tyrone town.

Twenty-nine people, including a woman expecting twins, were murdered in the Real IRA attack on 15 August 1998.

The inquiry will examine whether steps could have been taken to prevent the bombing, which was the the biggest single atrocity of the Troubles.

It was established last year, following a long legal battle by some victims’ families.

Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was one of those killed in the bombing, said the inquiry was hugely important.

“As I got up this morning and I could see the sun streaming through the window that just reminded me of 15th August 1998,” Mr Gallagher told the Good Morning Ulster programme.

“It was a beautiful day like today when the bombers came to Omagh

“Today is hugely significant – it’s hopefully the beginning of the end, as a bereaved parent I have done all that I can and the families are just totally exhausted.”

He said the bombing was “the largest security and intelligence failure in the history of Northern Ireland and there needs to be answers, what went wrong.

“There’s no doubt it will be difficult and not just difficult for us, but it will also be difficult and embarrassing for the British government and the Irish government because both states have failed us.

“I may have got this wrong, but what I would say to people is that if I have got it wrong please show me where I have got it wrong. We need to bring this finally to an end.”

Bereaved families and survivors are likely to attend the public hearing at the Strule Arts Centre in the town.

It is described as a preliminary session to deal with procedural issues.

No witnesses will be called or evidence heard until next year.

Part of the inquiry’s remit will be to establish if security measures could have disrupted dissident activities in the run-up to the bombing.

It will also evaluate the intelligence picture.

But it is not its purpose to identify the individuals responsible.

The attack was mounted from the Republic of Ireland and the Irish government has promised to assist the inquiry.

However, it has rebuffed a call for a separate or joint public inquiry.

The South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF), a group which helps some Omagh victims, has questioned Dublin’s approach.

Its director, Kenny Donaldson, said: “The Irish government could pass legislation which would provide Lord Turnbull with the ability to hold inquiry sessions in Dublin.

“He could be afforded the power to compel witnesses, to summons them to attend and to produce documents.

“Neither the Taoiseach (Irish PM) nor the Tánaiste (Irish deputy PM) can enforce key individuals to do so.

“An inquiry into Omagh which fails to have the ability to compel and summons witnesses from both sides of our border will not achieve an honourable and just outcome.”

On 15 August 1998 – just months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement – a large car bomb exploded in the town’s main street during peak Saturday shopping.

More than 200 people are injured in the blast, and a further 29 people died as a result.

Among the deceased were three generations of the same family.

The three women from Augher, County Tyrone were a 65-year-old, her 30-year-old daughter, who was heavily pregnant, and her 18-month-old toddler.