IN/0706

Omagh claim could be delayed

A GROUND-BREAKING £14 million compensation claim arising out of the Omagh bomb atrocity may not go ahead in January as planned, it emerged yesterday.
The High Court in Belfast was told that two cases linked to the claim may prevent it going ahead on January 17.
On October 26 the court will hear a judicial review application brought by the jailed RIRA leader Michael McKevitt against the refusal of legal aid to fight the huge claim against him and four other alleged bombers.
And yesterday Mr Justice Morgan directed that an application to hear the evidence of "superspy" David Rupert via video link from the USA will be heard on November 29.
Frank O'Donoghue QC, for McKevitt, said in view of the two cases the January 17 date might be unrealistic.
Brett Lockhart for the Omagh claimants, submitted there should be sufficient time for the cases to be dealt with before the compensation case.
Mr Justice Morgan said the legal aid decision could result in an appeal which could impact on the programme for the compensation hearing. He said the date would stand at this stage but he was conscious of the difficulties that could arise.
McKevitt (54) is being sued along with Liam Campbell, Seamus McKenna, Seamus Daly and Colm Murphy. They are suspected of involvement in the 1998 bombing in which 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, died.
McKevitt, from Blackrock, Co Louth, was jailed for 20 years in August 2003, after Mr Rupert appeared at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin and gave evidence which resulted in him being found guilty of running the Real IRA.
The High Court has previously been told that Mr Rupert is living in fear of his life at a secret address in the US after his photograph appeared on a website to try to find out his whereabouts.