DUO TO CHALLENGE OMAGH BOMB RULINGS
Duo to challenge Omagh bomb rulings
JAILED Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt and fellow senior republican Liam Campbell are to seek to go before the Supreme Court In London to challenge rulings that they were liable for the Omagh bombing. Their plan to continue their legal fight was disclosed as senior judges in Belfast confirmed that two other men sued over the atrocity, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly, will both face civil retrials. Earlier this year both McKevitt and Campbell lost their appeals against being found responsible for the August 1998 atrocity following a landmark civil action taken by relatives of some of the 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins who were killed in the explosion.
Barrister Brian Fee QC said yesterday that both men now intended to apply to contest that decision at the Supreme Court. He declined to set out any potential grounds of challenge
until further legal instructions have been received. During the hearing at the Court of Appeal the plaintiffs were also awarded costs against McKevttt and Campbell.
Both men are legally aided in a case where fees have been estimated at running into several hundred thousand pounds. No-one has been convicted of the Real IRA bomb attack which
devastated the Co Tyrone town. But McKevitt, a convicted Real IRA leader serving a 20-year Jail sentence; Campbell, a farmer from Co Louth fighting extradition to Lithuania over an alleged arms smuggling plot; Murphy, a Dundalk-based builder and publican; and Daly, from Culaville, Co Monaghan, were all found liable for the bombing in a civil ruling delivered In 2009. Mr Justice Morgan, now the lord chief justice, ordered them to pay �I.6 million in compensation. But In July this year three judges in the Court of Appeal upheld the appeals of Murphy and Daly.
At the time they ordered that Murphy should face a retrial. Daly will now also be retried, despite his barrister, Mary Hlggins QC, claiming yesterday that it would be unfair and would allow the plaintiffs "a second bite at the cherry".
Reasons for the judges decision will be given at a later stage. Lawyers for the Omagh families who brought the action are also considering going to the Supreme Court over the level of damages awarded.
The Court of Appeal had rejected their bid to be awarded exemplary damages.
JAILED Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt and fellow senior republican Liam Campbell are to seek to go before the Supreme Court In London to challenge rulings that they were liable for the Omagh bombing. Their plan to continue their legal fight was disclosed as senior judges in Belfast confirmed that two other men sued over the atrocity, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly, will both face civil retrials. Earlier this year both McKevitt and Campbell lost their appeals against being found responsible for the August 1998 atrocity following a landmark civil action taken by relatives of some of the 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins who were killed in the explosion.
Barrister Brian Fee QC said yesterday that both men now intended to apply to contest that decision at the Supreme Court. He declined to set out any potential grounds of challenge
until further legal instructions have been received. During the hearing at the Court of Appeal the plaintiffs were also awarded costs against McKevttt and Campbell.
Both men are legally aided in a case where fees have been estimated at running into several hundred thousand pounds. No-one has been convicted of the Real IRA bomb attack which
devastated the Co Tyrone town. But McKevitt, a convicted Real IRA leader serving a 20-year Jail sentence; Campbell, a farmer from Co Louth fighting extradition to Lithuania over an alleged arms smuggling plot; Murphy, a Dundalk-based builder and publican; and Daly, from Culaville, Co Monaghan, were all found liable for the bombing in a civil ruling delivered In 2009. Mr Justice Morgan, now the lord chief justice, ordered them to pay �I.6 million in compensation. But In July this year three judges in the Court of Appeal upheld the appeals of Murphy and Daly.
At the time they ordered that Murphy should face a retrial. Daly will now also be retried, despite his barrister, Mary Hlggins QC, claiming yesterday that it would be unfair and would allow the plaintiffs "a second bite at the cherry".
Reasons for the judges decision will be given at a later stage. Lawyers for the Omagh families who brought the action are also considering going to the Supreme Court over the level of damages awarded.
The Court of Appeal had rejected their bid to be awarded exemplary damages.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/1057
Published Date: 15-Oct-11
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