HOPEFULLY WE HAVE PAVED THE WAY FOR OTHER CASES LIKE THIS
Hopefully, we have paved the way for other cases like this
THE Omagh bomb civil action should be an inspiration for terror victims throughout the world - no matter what the result, campaigning relatives have claimed.
Lead plaintiff Mark Breslin, whose wife of just two-and-a-half years was killed in the 1998 atrocity, hopes the �14m civil suit will pave the way for other victims seeking retribution.
And although he acknowledges the journey towards justice has been long, frustrating and at times seemingly impossible, the father-of-one said the struggle had been worthwhile.
"The civil action came when it appeared the criminal side wasn't advancing as quickly as I thought it would. This was an opportunity to, I suppose at least, try and get as much information about what happened and also pursue those that perpetrated the bomb.
"I thought it was going to take longer. I realised it was a complex case and I knew it would take years and years rather than just a few years. I knew that personal finance would be a problem and that at any time, whatever I have, could be lost.
"But people were willing to stand by us and the public helped to raise the funds. We got quite a lot of support and later on through campaigning the government came on board.
"Actions like this, it's not only for us and there is an opportunity for others to do the same. Although there are no other actions being taken at the minute hopefully we will have helped pave the way."
Meanwhile, Godfrey Wilson, whose 15-year-old daughter Lorraine was killed when the 500lb car bomb ripped through Omagh, said he felt compelled to join the civil action.
"I had to do something. I just felt I couldn't let Lorraine's death go without justice. What kind of a father would I be, if I just sat back and did nothing."
During the trial it emerged just how Lorraine's death had impacted the Wilson family - two of her siblings tried to take their own lives and her mother, Ann, was described as a "shell of a woman" never likely to recover from her depression.
To fund the ground-breaking civil suit the families fundraised almost �2m before being awarded special status legal grant by the government.
Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aiden also died in the blast, believes it has been money well spent.
"If we are successful in suing the Real IRA as an organisation I think that would be a tremendous victory not just for the Omagh families but for other families at home and around the world who have suffered from terrorism because it would give them an instrument to use in courts - whether it be America, Spain, Israel, Colombia or Iraq or wherever terrorists operate.
"I think if it works out that our legal team are successful it would be, in one sense, a very fitting legacy for the people that died that it will in some ways act as a deterrent to people that finance, support or carry out acts of terrorism," Mr Gallagher said.
"What we have given the taxpayer is good value for money because we have created new law and created a precedence."
LESLEY-ANNE HENRY
THE Omagh bomb civil action should be an inspiration for terror victims throughout the world - no matter what the result, campaigning relatives have claimed.
Lead plaintiff Mark Breslin, whose wife of just two-and-a-half years was killed in the 1998 atrocity, hopes the �14m civil suit will pave the way for other victims seeking retribution.
And although he acknowledges the journey towards justice has been long, frustrating and at times seemingly impossible, the father-of-one said the struggle had been worthwhile.
"The civil action came when it appeared the criminal side wasn't advancing as quickly as I thought it would. This was an opportunity to, I suppose at least, try and get as much information about what happened and also pursue those that perpetrated the bomb.
"I thought it was going to take longer. I realised it was a complex case and I knew it would take years and years rather than just a few years. I knew that personal finance would be a problem and that at any time, whatever I have, could be lost.
"But people were willing to stand by us and the public helped to raise the funds. We got quite a lot of support and later on through campaigning the government came on board.
"Actions like this, it's not only for us and there is an opportunity for others to do the same. Although there are no other actions being taken at the minute hopefully we will have helped pave the way."
Meanwhile, Godfrey Wilson, whose 15-year-old daughter Lorraine was killed when the 500lb car bomb ripped through Omagh, said he felt compelled to join the civil action.
"I had to do something. I just felt I couldn't let Lorraine's death go without justice. What kind of a father would I be, if I just sat back and did nothing."
During the trial it emerged just how Lorraine's death had impacted the Wilson family - two of her siblings tried to take their own lives and her mother, Ann, was described as a "shell of a woman" never likely to recover from her depression.
To fund the ground-breaking civil suit the families fundraised almost �2m before being awarded special status legal grant by the government.
Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aiden also died in the blast, believes it has been money well spent.
"If we are successful in suing the Real IRA as an organisation I think that would be a tremendous victory not just for the Omagh families but for other families at home and around the world who have suffered from terrorism because it would give them an instrument to use in courts - whether it be America, Spain, Israel, Colombia or Iraq or wherever terrorists operate.
"I think if it works out that our legal team are successful it would be, in one sense, a very fitting legacy for the people that died that it will in some ways act as a deterrent to people that finance, support or carry out acts of terrorism," Mr Gallagher said.
"What we have given the taxpayer is good value for money because we have created new law and created a precedence."
LESLEY-ANNE HENRY
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/1143
Published Date: 08-Jun-09
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