IN/0731

Legal advice sought on Omagh bomb papers
By Valerie Robinson

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern is to take legal advice on whether to allow the release of State Papers relating to the 1998 Omagh bombing.
Speaking in the Dail in response to a question from the Labour leader Pat Rabbitte, Mr Ahern said he would seek legal advice from Attorney General Rory Brady and Justice Minister Michael McDowell on the possibility of moving the relevant documents to the National Archive in advance of the traditional 30 year period.
"I appreciate the importance of the papers [but] I'm not aware of what the legal complexities are," he said.
On Monday, the Special Criminal Court ruled that it did not have jurisdiction to release transcripts, books of evidence and statements related to the attack that claimed the lives of 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins.
Victims' relatives have sought documents they hope to use in their £14 million civil action against five men they suspect of carrying out the atrocity.
The Omagh Victims Civil Action Group is taking a civil action at Belfast High Court against Michael McKevitt, Seamus Daly, Seamus McKenna, Liam Campbell and Colm Murphy.