IN/0590

Omagh families set to sue RIRA suspects

FAMILIES of the Omagh bomb victims are seeking more than £10 million in compensation from the Real IRA suspects blamed for the atrocity.
Lawyers have 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 1998 attack.
The statement of claim details the agony endured by relatives of some of the 29 people murdered when dissident republicans detonated a huge car bomb in the Co 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.
"We have cleared another hurdle and are now in the final stages before we get to court."
A 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 issued. One man is understood to be seeking £300,000 in compensation for the loss of a wife and mother.
Sources close to the court action confirmed the aggravated damages and individual claims are in the region of more than £10 million.
Even though the police investigation was the biggest conducted in the north and the Republic, no-one has ever been charged with any of the murders.
The document, which outlines allegations against the five suspects and the level of suffering endured by the victims' families, is the culmination of an intensive effort by their solicitors and barristers.
McKevitt is named in papers as the Real IRA's leader and Campbell is named as a senior member.
Daly and McKenna are described as supporters of the dissident paramilitary group's campaign, while Murphy, the document claims, is an active republican who "advocates violence".
Writs were served against all five in July after solicitors travelled to homes and prisons in the Republic.
Murphy has been jailed for 14 years for conspiracy to commit explosions in connection with the Omagh attack.
Campbell is serving a five-year, sentence for membership of an illegal organisation, while McKevitt is due to go on trial charged with directing terrorism early next month.
McKevitt and Campbell have already announced they plan to contest the case against them.
A decision to grant them legal aid has infuriated the victims' relatives.
Mr Gallagher was particularly incensed that Campbell should benefit after Dublin's Criminal Assets Bureau seized hundreds of thousands of pounds belonging to him.
He said: "It appears this man has substantial means and if that's true all legal aid should be withdrawn."