TERROR GROUP DENIES ROLE IN OMAGH BLAST
Terror group denies role in Omagh blast
CIRA statement as Ministers meet victims' relatives
THE Continuity IRA has denied that it co-operated with the Real IRA in carrying out the Omagh bombing in 1998.
FBI agent David Rupert had claimed the dissident republican terror groups acted together, during the recent trial of Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt.
But, in a statement issued last night, the Continuity IRA (CIRA) said it "totally refuted" the claim that it was involved in "tragic events at Omagh".
Describing the McKevitt case as a "political show-trial in the Stalinist style", the CIRA statement said: "We wish to totally refute these absurd lies uttered by this mercenary.
"And, for the record, we wish to state that we played absolutely no part in the preparation or carrying out of this atrocity."
Pointing out that Rupert was "paid millions by a foreign power", CIRA claimed he was "prepared to do and say anything in an attempt to blacken the name of our organisation with the stain of Omagh".
"Unfortunately, he is not alone; since there are also some apparently subservient journalists who are prepared to engage in the same sordid tactics."
The CIRA statement was released as the Government pledged to re-examine the legal aid awards to some of the five men suspected of carrying out the Omagh bombing.
Two days before the fifth anniversary of the atrocity, victims' families were assured of a top-level probe during talks with Constitutional Affairs Minister Lord Filkin in Omagh yesterday.
His main aim, however, was to outline the Government's commitment to the Omagh lawsuit. The Minister, who is overseeing an �800,000 grant to bring the suspected terrorists to court, told them the Government money would be handed over by November.
Lord Filkin was challenged about the decision to foot the legal bills of two top dissident republicans named in the civil action, convicted terror chief Michael McKevitt and Liam Campbell.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was killed in the explosion, said: "These men have substantial assets so we have to know what level of co-operation there was between the British and Irish governments before legal aid was awarded."
The main aim of Lord Filkin's trip was to outline the Government's commitment to the Omagh lawsuit.
Mr Gallagher added: "It's going to send a powerful message to terrorists out there: if you continue to do this sort of thing the victims can financially ruin you."
A Northern Ireland Office spokesman later stressed legal aid was not administered directly by the Government.
He added: "We are not suggesting the Law Society has not followed the procedures properly, but what we're saying is that new information may have come to light.
"Specifically it has been reported in the Press that one of the men has had substantial assets frozen."
During his visit Lord Filkin also revealed cash could be made available to allow other victims of terrorism to mount civil cases in the future.
He said: "One always prays there will never be another incident like this. If there were to be such an incident then the Government's mind would not be closed to looking at it."
CIRA statement as Ministers meet victims' relatives
THE Continuity IRA has denied that it co-operated with the Real IRA in carrying out the Omagh bombing in 1998.
FBI agent David Rupert had claimed the dissident republican terror groups acted together, during the recent trial of Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt.
But, in a statement issued last night, the Continuity IRA (CIRA) said it "totally refuted" the claim that it was involved in "tragic events at Omagh".
Describing the McKevitt case as a "political show-trial in the Stalinist style", the CIRA statement said: "We wish to totally refute these absurd lies uttered by this mercenary.
"And, for the record, we wish to state that we played absolutely no part in the preparation or carrying out of this atrocity."
Pointing out that Rupert was "paid millions by a foreign power", CIRA claimed he was "prepared to do and say anything in an attempt to blacken the name of our organisation with the stain of Omagh".
"Unfortunately, he is not alone; since there are also some apparently subservient journalists who are prepared to engage in the same sordid tactics."
The CIRA statement was released as the Government pledged to re-examine the legal aid awards to some of the five men suspected of carrying out the Omagh bombing.
Two days before the fifth anniversary of the atrocity, victims' families were assured of a top-level probe during talks with Constitutional Affairs Minister Lord Filkin in Omagh yesterday.
His main aim, however, was to outline the Government's commitment to the Omagh lawsuit. The Minister, who is overseeing an �800,000 grant to bring the suspected terrorists to court, told them the Government money would be handed over by November.
Lord Filkin was challenged about the decision to foot the legal bills of two top dissident republicans named in the civil action, convicted terror chief Michael McKevitt and Liam Campbell.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was killed in the explosion, said: "These men have substantial assets so we have to know what level of co-operation there was between the British and Irish governments before legal aid was awarded."
The main aim of Lord Filkin's trip was to outline the Government's commitment to the Omagh lawsuit.
Mr Gallagher added: "It's going to send a powerful message to terrorists out there: if you continue to do this sort of thing the victims can financially ruin you."
A Northern Ireland Office spokesman later stressed legal aid was not administered directly by the Government.
He added: "We are not suggesting the Law Society has not followed the procedures properly, but what we're saying is that new information may have come to light.
"Specifically it has been reported in the Press that one of the men has had substantial assets frozen."
During his visit Lord Filkin also revealed cash could be made available to allow other victims of terrorism to mount civil cases in the future.
He said: "One always prays there will never be another incident like this. If there were to be such an incident then the Government's mind would not be closed to looking at it."
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/483
Published Date: 14-Aug-03
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