BT/1210

The tortuous road through the courts

THE families took their civil action in 2008 after claiming authorities had failed to secure a successful criminal conviction over the bombing in August 1998.
In June 2009 Mr Justice Morgan, who is now Northern Ireland's Lord Chief Justice, found that the four men - Michael McKevitt. Seamus Daly, Liam Campbell and Colm Murphy - were liable
for the 1998 Real IRA bombing in which 29 people died.
But in January this year the four men launched an appeal in front of Lord Justice Higgins, Lord Justice Girvan and Lord Justice Coghlin.
Evidence from an American FBI undercover operative David Rupert, who claimed to have infiltrated the terrorist organisation, was key in the successful action against McKevitt.
Colm Murphy is set for a civil retrial and Seamus Daly could face similar legal proceedings after their appeals were allowed by Belfast High Court
The 12 relatives who took the 2009 case were told by the court that the £1.6m figure awarded to them would not be increased.