BT/1072

Omagh bomb families in last bid to get justice
BY LESLEY-ANNE HENRY
lhenry@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

A LANDMARK legal action being taken by relatives of the Omagh bomb victims was due to start in Belfast today.
The £14m civil action, scheduled in the High Court for the next four weeks, is thought to be the families' last hope for justice.
In the first legal action of its kind, writs were served on five men - Michael McKevitt, Seamus Daly, Seamus McKenna, Liam Campbell and Colm Murphy - in July 2002. The families believe all five were involved in the 1998 atrocity which killed 29 people, including a mother pregnant with twins.
Members of nine bomb victim families were named among the 22 plaintiffs - however a number of families have pulled out of the long running legal battle. It is understood seven families are now suing for physical and psychological damage.
A high-powered legal team, headed by top London solicitor Jason McCue, has been hired with senior counsel Lord Brennan QC representing the families.
Speaking ahead of the special non-jury case, Mr McCue said: "I have no comment save that three tonnes of boxed court evidence travelled from London to Belfast. It feels symbolic of the weight the families have tirelessly carried during their courageous journey to court in search of justice.
Today the content of those boxes will be revealed and in due course the judge will rule.
"But just getting here is a moral victory for the families. It is all down to their determination and that is where the credit is due."
It is understood that court proceedings could shift to Dublin in May to hear evidence from 24 Gardai officers.
Michael Gallagher, whose son 21-year-old Aiden was killed in the blast, said their quest for justice had been difficult.
He said: "It has been a long and difficult seven years and there have been many struggles and hurdles and they continue to be struggles and hurdles in court. We haven't had any reassurance from the Gardai that officers will give evidence. We have concerns about the Irish government dragging their heels.
"But nothing can take away from the fact that it is a magnificent achievement that we have finally got to court.
"We are not seeking vengeance we are seeking justice."
In December last year, south Armagh man Sean Hoey was cleared of 29 counts of murder relating to the 1998 Real IRA atrocity.
During his lengthy trial the families were able to watch in Omagh proceedings via videolink.
This time, however, no arrangements have been made, meaning the families have to make a 150-mile round trip every day.
Victor Barker, whose 12-year-old son James was also killed in the blast, was also expected to travel from England for the hearing.
He said he would like to see senior RUC officers from the time called to give evidence.
"I have already commented before that I think the state should be responsible for prosecuting criminals and that's still my view," he said.
"But if the relatives have got no other course of action than to do what they are doing then I am entirely supporting them.
"In view of what happened last December I don't want to make any predictions I just want to say that the families are entitled to justice and it is the only means of achieving some kind of justice and it ought to be pursued vigorously.
"Everybody was very disappointed with the verdict last year and I think that's a great disappointment and another set back for all the families, not just my family. It's something that is obviously pretty difficult to swallow."