MAN ACCUSED OF MASTERMINDING OMAGH BOMBING APPEARS IN COURT
Man accused of masterminding Omagh bombing appears in court
By Barry McCaffrey
HE alleged Real IRA mastermind behind the Omagh bombing is to appear in a Belfast court this morning as Lithuanian authorities seek to extradite him from Northern Ireland. Liam Campbell (46), pictured, from Faughart in Dundalk was arrested after secretly crossing the border at the weekend. PSNI officers rammed his vehicle as he drove through the border village of Bessbrook on Friday.
He was released without charge yesterday but then rearrested in connection with a European Arrest Warrant, issued in Lithuania, and was expected to appear in Belfast Recorder's Court this morning
In January a separate European Arrest Warrant was issued in Dublin seeking Campbell's extradition to Lithuania to face arms smuggling charges alongside his brother Michael, who was arrested in a police sting operation last January.
Campbell, who is alleged to have been second-in-command of the Real IRA at the time of the Omagh bombing, had been held at Antrim Serious Crime Suite for the past five days.
It is understood he was questioned about his alleged role as the mastermind behind the August 1998 Real IRA bomb attack on Omagh town centre, which killed 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins.
In May 2004 he was jailed for Real IRA membership and is one of five men being sued in a civil action by the Omagh families.
It was announced yesterday that the verdict in the civil case will be delivered on June 8.
By Barry McCaffrey
HE alleged Real IRA mastermind behind the Omagh bombing is to appear in a Belfast court this morning as Lithuanian authorities seek to extradite him from Northern Ireland. Liam Campbell (46), pictured, from Faughart in Dundalk was arrested after secretly crossing the border at the weekend. PSNI officers rammed his vehicle as he drove through the border village of Bessbrook on Friday.
He was released without charge yesterday but then rearrested in connection with a European Arrest Warrant, issued in Lithuania, and was expected to appear in Belfast Recorder's Court this morning
In January a separate European Arrest Warrant was issued in Dublin seeking Campbell's extradition to Lithuania to face arms smuggling charges alongside his brother Michael, who was arrested in a police sting operation last January.
Campbell, who is alleged to have been second-in-command of the Real IRA at the time of the Omagh bombing, had been held at Antrim Serious Crime Suite for the past five days.
It is understood he was questioned about his alleged role as the mastermind behind the August 1998 Real IRA bomb attack on Omagh town centre, which killed 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins.
In May 2004 he was jailed for Real IRA membership and is one of five men being sued in a civil action by the Omagh families.
It was announced yesterday that the verdict in the civil case will be delivered on June 8.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0999
Published Date: 27-May-09
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