OMAGH LEGAL AID APPEALS DECISION DUE
Omagh legal aid appeals decision due
DECISION on whether to fund appeals by four men held responsible for the Omagh bomb atrocity is expected within weeks, it has emerged. Judges due to hear a challenge to the landmark ruling were told yesterday that a special committee will meet to decide applications for legal aid from the dissident republican suspects.
Victims' families awarded compensation in the civil action they brought over the Real IRA attack are also still waiting to hear if they will receive exceptional funding to contest the level of damages. All of the appeals may have to be abandoned if legal aid is denied to the parties. In June Mr Justice Morgan, now the Lord Chief Justice ordered that more than �I.6 million in total should be paid out to 12 relatives who sued over the August 1998 massacre which claimed 29 lives.
But the families, who took the High Court civil action, are pressing for a more punitive award of exemplary damages to be made against those held liable.
Jailed Real IRA chief Michael McKevitt and three other men, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly were all found responsible for the bombing following a year-long trial.
The Court of Appeal was told yesterday that all applications for legal aid are now to go before a committee. A barrister for Murphy and Daly said: "We have been informed that will take place in four to six weeks, where the committee will make a decision on all applications by the defendants. We are all in the same position." Brett Lockhart QC, for the families, confirmed that they too had been required to submit more details as part of their application. Despite the uncertainty, Lord
Justice Higgins directed both sides to press ahead with drawing up a list of witnesses and transcript evidence required from the original High Court trial. The case was listed for mention again in January when a decision on funding is expected to have been reached.
DECISION on whether to fund appeals by four men held responsible for the Omagh bomb atrocity is expected within weeks, it has emerged. Judges due to hear a challenge to the landmark ruling were told yesterday that a special committee will meet to decide applications for legal aid from the dissident republican suspects.
Victims' families awarded compensation in the civil action they brought over the Real IRA attack are also still waiting to hear if they will receive exceptional funding to contest the level of damages. All of the appeals may have to be abandoned if legal aid is denied to the parties. In June Mr Justice Morgan, now the Lord Chief Justice ordered that more than �I.6 million in total should be paid out to 12 relatives who sued over the August 1998 massacre which claimed 29 lives.
But the families, who took the High Court civil action, are pressing for a more punitive award of exemplary damages to be made against those held liable.
Jailed Real IRA chief Michael McKevitt and three other men, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly were all found responsible for the bombing following a year-long trial.
The Court of Appeal was told yesterday that all applications for legal aid are now to go before a committee. A barrister for Murphy and Daly said: "We have been informed that will take place in four to six weeks, where the committee will make a decision on all applications by the defendants. We are all in the same position." Brett Lockhart QC, for the families, confirmed that they too had been required to submit more details as part of their application. Despite the uncertainty, Lord
Justice Higgins directed both sides to press ahead with drawing up a list of witnesses and transcript evidence required from the original High Court trial. The case was listed for mention again in January when a decision on funding is expected to have been reached.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/1021
Published Date: 28-Nov-09
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