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Backing for campaign to sue Omagh bombers

ONE of the Omagh bomb atrocity bereaved has confirmed that former Northern Ireland Secretary of State Peter Mandelson is donating £10,000 towards a campaign to sue the alleged perpetrators of the atrocity.
Relatives of those killed in the explosion say that Mr. Mandelson is handing over the fees paid by national newspapers for articles explaining his handling of the Hinduja passports affair.
Mr. Mandelson has been recruited, along with former Conservative Secretary of State, Sir Patrick Mayhew, to front the Omagh Victims' Legal Trust, which is attempting to raise £1 million by August to bring a civil action which requires a lower burden of proof than criminal proceedings.
A total of 29 people, including a woman expecting twins, died as a result of the August 15,1998, Market Street explosion.
Dissident republican paramilitaries in the so called Real IRA admitted responsibility for the attack.
No-one has ever been charged with the murders, but one man is currently awaiting trial in Eire on a charge of conspiracy to cause explosions.
Victor Barker, whose son James (12) was among the dead said the money was needed before the expiry of the three year deadline for a civil litigation claim to be lodged.
He said: "We feel very committed to the cause, in terms of being able to bring a civil case which will be successful against a number of those we believe to have been either responsible for or had a major part to play in this tragedy.
"The case is based upon extremely complex evidence with masses of paperwork to be got through before a successful claim can be brought.
"Our advice from the lawyers acting for us is that we need to have almost £lm to be able to bring a civil claim successfully."
Mr. Barker went on: "What this is, is an attempt by the relatives to get these people into court to have to answer questions, to say and give explanations for what they did on August 15,1998.
"It is a sense of justice and fair play the relatives want to see. Money is of no concern to any of us.
"It is a cry for justice. It is not a symbolic or waving hands action. This is a very serious matter as far as the relatives are concerned. Relatives of the victims are determined to ensure that someone has to answer some questions.
"For me, in my position, to live my life having known that my son died in a horrendous way that day, is a very difficult thing to do.
"But I must fight for him and give him the justice which his untimely and murderous death deserves," said Mr. Barker.