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US President backing for Omagh families civil legal action
by David Killen

PRESIDENT George W. Bush has backed the civil legal action being taken by some Omagh families against those they believe carried out the 1998 bomb atrocity.
News of the President's support was given to the Omagh Victims' Legal Fund in a letter from Richard N. Haass, the US State Department's special ambassador to Ireland.
He was responding to a letter from Michael Gallagher, the fund's chairman, in which information about the efforts to pursue justice through the civil courts was outlined.
Ambassador Haass said the president had asked him to reply, and added: "We greatly appreciate your expression of sympathy for the victims of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington on September 11. A profound sense of loss resulting from terrorism is yet one more strong link between the people of the United States and Northern Ireland.
"We are heartened that people in Northern Ireland are turning away from violence and instead relying on political and legal means to resolve issues and disputes.
"In that vein, we commend your decision to pursue legal civil action against those responsible for the Omagh atrocity.
"The President and I thank you for keeping us informed of you endeavours, and wish you well in pursuing justice for the victims of the Omagh tragedy and their families."
Mr Gallagher said on Tuesday that he was heartened and encouraged by the interest shown by the President and Mr Haass.
Justice
"It is good news that the President is backing our efforts to obtain justice," Mr Gallagher told the Tyrone Constitution.
He went on to say that things were now coming together in the legal campaign, with fundraising continuing at a good rate.
The next major effort will be a gala dinner in Warringtown, at which David Trimble, the First Minister, will be one of the guests.
Mr Gallagher also spoke of the ceremony in Omagh this week to erect a plaque at the new community house, which is close to the bomb site.
He said that while the families encouraged the work being done for the community, they stressed that it was not solely a memorial to those who had died.
"We have a little bit of concern that this has been flagged up as a memorial to those who died. Without doubt the day will come when we need to think about a permanent memorial.
We know that there is still about £1.3 million in the bank account of the fund set up after the bombing, and perhaps a part of that could be used for a memorial," Mr Gallagher said.