LAWYERS IN �14M OMAGH BOMB COMPENSATION CASE CRITICISED
Lawyers in �14m Omagh bomb compensation case criticised
LAWYERS in the �14 million Omagh bomb compensation case were criticised yesterday by the lord chief justice, Sir Brian Kerr, in the Court of Appeal.
Declaring that an appeal by two of the defendants had been characterised by every conceivable technical objection, Sir Brian said: "The time has now arrived for this case to proceed with all despatch."
The record-breaking claim over the 1998 bombing is due to be heard next month but is facing more delay on two fronts.
A judicial review is being heard in the High Court challenging the lord chancellor's decision to award exceptional legal aid of �860,000 to the victims and their relatives.
Earlier this week it was revealed that American 'super spy' David Rupert, who infiltrated the Real IRA which planted the bomb and killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, may not give evidence because of risk to his security and health.
Yesterday's appeal was brought by Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly, who are being sued along with Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Seamus McKenna and the Real IRA.
Murphy and Daly appealed against a ruling in which trial judge Mr Justice Morgan ordered production of documents held by solicitors in the Republic who acted for them in proceedings at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin.
Dismissing the appeal, Sir Brian, sitting with Lords Justices Campbell and Higgins, said: "The case generally has spawned much interlocutory litigation where again every possible ground on which the action might be frustrated has been canvassed.
"There has been satellite litigation challenging the grant of funds to the respondents for the legal costs of the action."
Saying that the time had come to get on with the case, Sir Brian said: "It is clear the learned trial judge has bent every effort to achieve this.
LAWYERS in the �14 million Omagh bomb compensation case were criticised yesterday by the lord chief justice, Sir Brian Kerr, in the Court of Appeal.
Declaring that an appeal by two of the defendants had been characterised by every conceivable technical objection, Sir Brian said: "The time has now arrived for this case to proceed with all despatch."
The record-breaking claim over the 1998 bombing is due to be heard next month but is facing more delay on two fronts.
A judicial review is being heard in the High Court challenging the lord chancellor's decision to award exceptional legal aid of �860,000 to the victims and their relatives.
Earlier this week it was revealed that American 'super spy' David Rupert, who infiltrated the Real IRA which planted the bomb and killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, may not give evidence because of risk to his security and health.
Yesterday's appeal was brought by Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly, who are being sued along with Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Seamus McKenna and the Real IRA.
Murphy and Daly appealed against a ruling in which trial judge Mr Justice Morgan ordered production of documents held by solicitors in the Republic who acted for them in proceedings at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin.
Dismissing the appeal, Sir Brian, sitting with Lords Justices Campbell and Higgins, said: "The case generally has spawned much interlocutory litigation where again every possible ground on which the action might be frustrated has been canvassed.
"There has been satellite litigation challenging the grant of funds to the respondents for the legal costs of the action."
Saying that the time had come to get on with the case, Sir Brian said: "It is clear the learned trial judge has bent every effort to achieve this.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0837
Published Date: 16-Mar-07
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.