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Omagh families aim for £10m payout

FAMILIES of the Omagh bomb massacre victims are seeking more than £10m in compensation from the Real IRA suspects blamed for the atrocity. Lawyers lodged a huge legal document which confirms the scale of damages they want awarded against five men named in a civil action taken by relatives of those killed in the August 1998 attack.
The three-inch thick "statement of claim" details the agony endured by relatives of some of the 29 people murdered when dissident republican terrorists detonated a huge car bomb in the Tyrone town centre.
Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aidan died in the explosion, said the High Court action was not about money.
But he added: "Hopefully this will send a clear message that terrorism is not a profitable business to be involved in."
A high-powered legal team has been employed by the families to sue Michael McKevitt, (51), Liam Campbell, (38), Colm Murphy, (51), Seamus McKenna, (49), and 33-year-old Seamus Daly.
The civil action is expected to be heard in Belfast later this year.
Before then, lawyers for the five men named must respond to the detailed claims that have been issued.
One man is understood to be seeking £300,000 in compensation for the loss of a wife and mother.