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Omagh families vow to push on with legal fight

THE Omagh families yesterday pledged to push on with their historic civil action despite lawyers for the defence quitting.
Chairman Michael Gallagher said the case will go ahead and nothing will prevent the families from seeking justice.
The trial is expected to take place in Belfast High Court next month.
Mr Gallagher said: "Obviously we would prefer there was a defence team as it would make the case more interesting but it is just like when a defendant has no solicitor in court, he can still be convicted."
It was announced last week that defence lawyers would be pulling out after Frank O'Donoghue QC, representing Michael McKevitt, said the defence could not be funded.
This decision came after McKevitt lost a legal aid bid to defend the claim.
McKevitt, Seamus Daly, Seamus McKenna, Liam Campbell and Colm Murphy are being sued by the Omagh Victims' Civil Action Group for £14 million. The other four lawyers named as defendants in the case had earlier ended representation.
Richard Devall, from lawyers H2O representing the families, would not comment on the legal representative coming off record.
He said: "Whatever actions the defendants may choose to take, nothing will prevent the families from pursuing this historic civil, action through to trial."