OMAGH FAMILIES SUMMONS ADAMS
OMAGH FAMILIES SUMMONS ADAMS
EXCLUSIVE
By ALAN MURRAY
SINN FEIN leader, Gerry Adams, is likely to be served with a subpoena, on behalf of the Omagh bombing relatives, in PUBLIC.
Adams, Martin McGuinness and fellow Sinn Fein MP Pat Doherty, have been called as witnesses to explain the reasons behind the dispute, which led to the creation of the Real IRA.
Solicitors acting on behalf of relatives want the three MPs and Belfast men, Brian Gillen and Brian Keenan, to give details about a meeting of the IRA's executive at Gweedore, in October 1997, when Michael McKevitt allegedly resigned, as the IRA's quartermaster-general.
Less than a year later, the Real IRA detonated the Omagh bomb, which killed 29 people, and unborn twins.
McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy, Seamus McKenna and Seamus Daly are facing a �10m lawsuit in Belfast and London, brought by the relatives.
In spite of Mr Adams' statement that he has "no evidence to offer", lawyers intend to serve him with a subpoena in public, compelling him to attend court.
One informed source said: "Adams is a public figure, a man who asserts he wants to establish a peaceful society, and heal wounds.
"We will give him that opportunity
"He has a high profile, attending meetings in public with Mr McGuinness, and agents acting for the solicitors will approach him in a proper way, in a public place and hand them the subpoenas."
The summons could be served at a TV studio, at Stormont or Hillsborough, where further talks to try to overcome the current political impasse are expected early next month.
The relatives of the victims have also requested a further meeting with the Republic's Minister for Justice, to challenge the decision to grant funding to the alleged members of the Real IRA who are facing the civil action.
And they want the Republic's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, to explain why his department denied the state would provide legal aid to the defendants, during a meeting with relatives.
Michael Gallagher, a spokesman for the families, said: "We take notes of all these meetings, and our record of the meeting shows that the answer we got was, that the Irish government wouldn't fund the defence in such a case, because it is outside the jurisdiction.
"In four-and-a-half years, we have received just around �4,000 in funding from the British Government. We have to raise over �lm to bring this case against the men, who we believe planned the murder of our loved-ones.
"Now we learn that governments are giving the defendants in this civil action big handouts."
EXCLUSIVE
By ALAN MURRAY
SINN FEIN leader, Gerry Adams, is likely to be served with a subpoena, on behalf of the Omagh bombing relatives, in PUBLIC.
Adams, Martin McGuinness and fellow Sinn Fein MP Pat Doherty, have been called as witnesses to explain the reasons behind the dispute, which led to the creation of the Real IRA.
Solicitors acting on behalf of relatives want the three MPs and Belfast men, Brian Gillen and Brian Keenan, to give details about a meeting of the IRA's executive at Gweedore, in October 1997, when Michael McKevitt allegedly resigned, as the IRA's quartermaster-general.
Less than a year later, the Real IRA detonated the Omagh bomb, which killed 29 people, and unborn twins.
McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy, Seamus McKenna and Seamus Daly are facing a �10m lawsuit in Belfast and London, brought by the relatives.
In spite of Mr Adams' statement that he has "no evidence to offer", lawyers intend to serve him with a subpoena in public, compelling him to attend court.
One informed source said: "Adams is a public figure, a man who asserts he wants to establish a peaceful society, and heal wounds.
"We will give him that opportunity
"He has a high profile, attending meetings in public with Mr McGuinness, and agents acting for the solicitors will approach him in a proper way, in a public place and hand them the subpoenas."
The summons could be served at a TV studio, at Stormont or Hillsborough, where further talks to try to overcome the current political impasse are expected early next month.
The relatives of the victims have also requested a further meeting with the Republic's Minister for Justice, to challenge the decision to grant funding to the alleged members of the Real IRA who are facing the civil action.
And they want the Republic's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, to explain why his department denied the state would provide legal aid to the defendants, during a meeting with relatives.
Michael Gallagher, a spokesman for the families, said: "We take notes of all these meetings, and our record of the meeting shows that the answer we got was, that the Irish government wouldn't fund the defence in such a case, because it is outside the jurisdiction.
"In four-and-a-half years, we have received just around �4,000 in funding from the British Government. We have to raise over �lm to bring this case against the men, who we believe planned the murder of our loved-ones.
"Now we learn that governments are giving the defendants in this civil action big handouts."
Further Information
Publisher: SUNDAY LIFE
Ref: SL/147
Published Date: 16-Feb-03
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