BT/0849

Geldof: Omagh was our Twin Towers
LACK OF RESPONSE TO FINANCIAL APPEAL ANGERS SIR BOB

THE Omagh bombing was morally identical to the events of September 11, musician Bob Geldof said as he appealed for more money to help bring the suspected bombers to justice. Sir Bob was joined by First Minister David Trimble, former Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson and boxing hero Barry McGuigan in calling for funds to help the families of those killed mount a civil action against the alleged bombers.
At the meeting in the Irish Club in central London yesterday, Live Aid founder Sir Bob said he was "appalled" by the lack
response to the families' appeal so far.
To date, the families have raised just £500,000 for their legal battle. They need at least £lm by the end of April if their civil action is to make it to court, the pop singer said.
He said: "Omagh was without question our September 11. There is no moral difference in any sense.
"I'm appalled by the lack of outpouring from our two countries, Britain and Ireland."
Twenty-nine people died and two unborn children were killed in the Real IRA car bomb which devastated Omagh on August 15,
1998. Only one person has been brought to justice successfully for charges relating to the bomb.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Mr Trimble echoed Sir Bob's comments, arguing that there was "no moral distinction" between the
Omagh atrocity and the terror attacks in America. Mr Mandelson warned that there would never be a lasting peace in Northern Ireland unless the Omagh bombers were brought to justice. There were messages of support from former US President Bill Clinton, London Mayor Ken Livingstone and Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, who said the relatives had his "complete admiration".
The group has until August, exactly a year after the civil writ was served, to reach its £2m target to pay for the civil action but since the appeal was launched 18 months ago it has raised just a quarter of the necessary funds.
Donations to the legal action appeal can be sent to the Omagh Victims Legal Fund, 21 Southwick
Mews, London W2 1JG. They can also be made via any Bank of Ireland branch or sent to the bank's outlet at 5 Campsie Road, Omagh.
The sort code for the account is 905002 and the account number is 30790971.