OMAGH RELATIVES BACK McCARTNEY SISTERS' LEGAL PLAN
Omagh relatives back McCartney sisters' legal plan
By Andrea Clements
RELATIVES of people killed in the Omagh bomb today said they would fully support any move by the McCartney sisters to take a civil action against their brother's killers.
The family of father-of-two Robert McCartney say they may take civil proceedings similar to the case against the Omagh bombers if it proves impossible to bring his murderers to court.
Relatives of the Omagh victims have taken a private prosecution against five men they believe are connected to the bombing.
The action, partly funded by the Government, is due to begin later this year.
Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aidan died in the 1998 Omagh bombing, said:
"We'd be more than happy to tell them about our experiences and the hurdles we have had to face in our civil action.
"We've had a lot of hurdles and there are still some to climb.
"The people we are suing are making it very difficult for us and did everything in their power to slow up the process and frustrate it.
"We are determined to see it through to the bitter end and confident we will have a result.
"Anything we can to do to help the McCartneys we would be more than happy to do that."
He said he hoped the family would not be forced to resort to expensive civil action.
"We all hope they will get a criminal prosecution and it's only proper those responsible for the brutal murder should be put behind bars," he said.
Catherine McCartney said earlier this week that civil action was one avenue the family wanted to explore with lawyers and they would be seeking legal advice.
"However, our principal focus at the moment is on getting those responsible into court," she said.
Mr McCartney, a 30-year-old forklift truck driver, was stabbed and beaten outside a Belfast city centre bar on January 30 and a friend, Brendan Devine, was also seriously wounded following a row with republicans.
The murder has placed the republican movement under intense political pressure on both sides of the Atlantic, with the victim's five sisters and partner accusing IRA members of carrying out the attack and covering up what happened.
By Andrea Clements
RELATIVES of people killed in the Omagh bomb today said they would fully support any move by the McCartney sisters to take a civil action against their brother's killers.
The family of father-of-two Robert McCartney say they may take civil proceedings similar to the case against the Omagh bombers if it proves impossible to bring his murderers to court.
Relatives of the Omagh victims have taken a private prosecution against five men they believe are connected to the bombing.
The action, partly funded by the Government, is due to begin later this year.
Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aidan died in the 1998 Omagh bombing, said:
"We'd be more than happy to tell them about our experiences and the hurdles we have had to face in our civil action.
"We've had a lot of hurdles and there are still some to climb.
"The people we are suing are making it very difficult for us and did everything in their power to slow up the process and frustrate it.
"We are determined to see it through to the bitter end and confident we will have a result.
"Anything we can to do to help the McCartneys we would be more than happy to do that."
He said he hoped the family would not be forced to resort to expensive civil action.
"We all hope they will get a criminal prosecution and it's only proper those responsible for the brutal murder should be put behind bars," he said.
Catherine McCartney said earlier this week that civil action was one avenue the family wanted to explore with lawyers and they would be seeking legal advice.
"However, our principal focus at the moment is on getting those responsible into court," she said.
Mr McCartney, a 30-year-old forklift truck driver, was stabbed and beaten outside a Belfast city centre bar on January 30 and a friend, Brendan Devine, was also seriously wounded following a row with republicans.
The murder has placed the republican movement under intense political pressure on both sides of the Atlantic, with the victim's five sisters and partner accusing IRA members of carrying out the attack and covering up what happened.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0937
Published Date: 04-Apr-05
Related Images
