OMAGH BLAST: WRITS SERVED
OMAGH BLAST: WRITS SERVED
First stage in families' justice fight
By Ian Graham, PA News
WRITS were served today on two men suspected by the families of the Omagh bomb victims of being responsible for the blast.
And lawyers acting for the Omagh Victims Legal Trust also travelled to Portlaoise Prison where they expected to serve writs on a further three men suspected of being behind the Real IRA bomb. At 6.45am this morning, lawyer Jason McCue delivered writs to the homes of Seamus Daly and Seamus McKenna in Dundalk, Co Louth. Neither man answered the door, but one writ was handed to the father of Mr Daly and the other was put through the letter box of the McKenna house. The serving of writs is the first stage in a fight by the families to bring the suspected bombers to justice through civil action after the authorities failed to charge anyone with the murders of the 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, in the August 1998 bombing. Mr McCue was later on his way to Portlaoise Prison more serve writs on three more men who are being held there on unconnected matters - Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell and Colm Murphy.
He was accompanied by Michael Gallagher, who lost his teenage son Aidan in the horrific blast.
The writs claim "damages (including aggravated damages and/or exemplary damages) as a result of the explosion of a bomb at Omagh town centre on 15 August 1998 for which the defendants and each of them are responsible."
They also demand damages for "the intentional infliction of harm, trespass to the person and/or conspiracy to commit trespass to the person and/or conspiracy to injure". The Real IRA are also named in the writs along with the five individuals. It is the first time alleged terrorists have been sued. Mr McCue, who was accompanied by Gardai when he went to the addresses of the suspected Real IRA members, said: "I asked for them to be there in case there was a breach of the peace - there wasn't.
"I went to the last known addresses of the two men, but neither came to the door. I put one writ through the letter box and the other was passed through a window to Mr Daly's father. "I am satisfied that they have been served."
Serving the writs, which is the first stage in a bid to win damages from the suspects, will come as a relief for the families of the victims, who had started to fear that no court action would ever take place.
The Omagh bombing was the worst single atrocity in 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland. The men on whom the writs were served could ignore the legal action, which is due to take place in Belfast. But that will not stop the families having their day in court and having the case against the men detailed in public. The families could still win judgement by default, threatening the personal assets of the suspects.
Stanley McCombe, whose wife was murdered in the bombing, expressed relief the legal moves that had been planned for more than a year, were finally under way.
"I think everyone is relieved that we have got to this stage - at least the families are doing something - the Government doesn't seem to be doing too much."
First stage in families' justice fight
By Ian Graham, PA News
WRITS were served today on two men suspected by the families of the Omagh bomb victims of being responsible for the blast.
And lawyers acting for the Omagh Victims Legal Trust also travelled to Portlaoise Prison where they expected to serve writs on a further three men suspected of being behind the Real IRA bomb. At 6.45am this morning, lawyer Jason McCue delivered writs to the homes of Seamus Daly and Seamus McKenna in Dundalk, Co Louth. Neither man answered the door, but one writ was handed to the father of Mr Daly and the other was put through the letter box of the McKenna house. The serving of writs is the first stage in a fight by the families to bring the suspected bombers to justice through civil action after the authorities failed to charge anyone with the murders of the 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, in the August 1998 bombing. Mr McCue was later on his way to Portlaoise Prison more serve writs on three more men who are being held there on unconnected matters - Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell and Colm Murphy.
He was accompanied by Michael Gallagher, who lost his teenage son Aidan in the horrific blast.
The writs claim "damages (including aggravated damages and/or exemplary damages) as a result of the explosion of a bomb at Omagh town centre on 15 August 1998 for which the defendants and each of them are responsible."
They also demand damages for "the intentional infliction of harm, trespass to the person and/or conspiracy to commit trespass to the person and/or conspiracy to injure". The Real IRA are also named in the writs along with the five individuals. It is the first time alleged terrorists have been sued. Mr McCue, who was accompanied by Gardai when he went to the addresses of the suspected Real IRA members, said: "I asked for them to be there in case there was a breach of the peace - there wasn't.
"I went to the last known addresses of the two men, but neither came to the door. I put one writ through the letter box and the other was passed through a window to Mr Daly's father. "I am satisfied that they have been served."
Serving the writs, which is the first stage in a bid to win damages from the suspects, will come as a relief for the families of the victims, who had started to fear that no court action would ever take place.
The Omagh bombing was the worst single atrocity in 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland. The men on whom the writs were served could ignore the legal action, which is due to take place in Belfast. But that will not stop the families having their day in court and having the case against the men detailed in public. The families could still win judgement by default, threatening the personal assets of the suspects.
Stanley McCombe, whose wife was murdered in the bombing, expressed relief the legal moves that had been planned for more than a year, were finally under way.
"I think everyone is relieved that we have got to this stage - at least the families are doing something - the Government doesn't seem to be doing too much."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0864
Published Date: 26-Jul-02
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