August 15th, 1998- a 500lb bomb rips through Market Street, Omagh, killing 21 people instantly and injuring more than 300. Eight more die of their injuries later in hospital.
August 18th, 1998- Real IRA admits responsibility for attack. Blames the RUC for failing to respond to "clear" warnings.
August 25th, 1998- British and Irish governments announce tough new terror laws. Some commentators call for the reintroduction of internment.
September 1st, 1998- Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams calls on all dissident republican groups to disband.
February 25th, 1999- Co Louth publican Colm Murphy (48) is charged with "conspiracy to cause an explosion" and membership of the Real IRA.
October 10th, 2000- BBC's Panorama names four of the Omagh suspects, following the defeat of an injunction brought before Belfast High Court.
October 28th, 2000- Relatives of four of the Omagh victims announce they are to sue the suspects named in the BBC documentary.
December 7th, 2001- Police ombudsman Nuala O'Loan releases a highly critical report on the police investigation into Omagh. The report claims that the investigation was blighted by "hundreds of errors".
December 13th, 2001- Ronnie Flanagan says he will resign and "commit suicide in public" if the accusations are found to be true.
January 23rd, 2002- Colm Murphy is found guilty by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin of conspiracy to cause the Omagh bombing.
February 19th, 2002- Ronnie Flanagan resigns as RUC chief constable.
April 23rd, 2004- The civil case by victims' families gets under way in Belfast.
January 21st, 2005- Colm Murphy's conviction is overturned, a retrial is ordered.
May 26th, 2005- Seán Gerard Hoey is charged with 29 counts of murder in the case of the Omagh bomb and with membership of the real IRA.
December 20th, 2007- Hoey is found not guilty of all charges by Justice Weir. PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde admits that it is "highly unlikely" that anyone will be brought to justice without new evidence.
January 4th, 2008- Policing board announces a new independent inquiry into police handling of the Omagh bomb investigation.
January 23rd, 2008- Ronnie Flanagan apologises to families of the victims.
April 7th, 2008- A new civil case by the victims' families against five of the suspects opens in the High Court in Belfast.