MINISTERS MEET BOMB BEREAVED ON CIVIL ACTION FUNDING
Ministers meet bomb bereaved on civil action funding
by Karen McPhilemy
RELATIVES of the Omagh bomb victims who met yesterday (Wednesday) with two Government ministers to discuss the government decision to contribute �800,000 towards their civil legal action against five Real IRA suspects, have described the news as "light at the end of the tunnel".
The visit came just two days prior to the fifth anniversary of the Omagh atrocity which claimed 31 lives, including unborn twins.
Representatives of families of those killed in the explosion met with Lord Filken, Permanent Under-Secretary of the Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA) , and NIO Security Minister, Jane Kennedy, at the Memorial Garden, off Drumragh Avenue, before making their way down to the bomb site at Market Street.
The fine print of the proposed financial support was to be outlined during a private meeting at the Silverbirch Hotel later yesterday, where they were to discuss what would happen if the bill rises beyond the anticipated additional �800,000
The families have already raised �1.2m towards the bill, but an estimated �800,000 more was needed.
And after months of consultation with the DCA, Secretary of State, Mr. Paul Murphy, confirmed on Friday that the Government was to help the relatives pay the total bill.
Speaking with the relatives at the Memorial Garden, Lord Filken described his visit as a "great privilege".
He said: "It is a privilege to be here with the families and to recognise the enormous work they have done over the past five years, to try and find justice and resolution.
"The Government decided it would support this action and have made a clear commitment that we will give civil legal aid support towards this action. The details of this and how it will be done will be discussed during a meeting later today.
"It is very important that this action moves forward and that the efforts given by so many people in Northern Ireland to support this action are not wasted or aborted," he said.
When asked whether he thought this decision would set precedence for other groups to seek Government funding with civil action cases, Lord Filken was adamant it would not.
"Exceptional case"
"No it will not, because we will do this in a way that makes clear that this is an exceptional issue with very exceptional circumstances.
"One always hopes and prays that something like this won't happen again, but if it does our minds will not be closed. However, we are talking about major terrorist destruction."
Lord Filken added that he hoped the funding would come into play "as soon as possible.
"Hopefully, the funding will be made available in a matter of months, perhaps even November. I cannot say any more on the matter nor can I say whether further action will be stopped until it is received, as this is one of the topics I will be discussing in further detail with the families later today."
The Minister stressed that the decision to allocate the funding was not influenced by Real IRA chief Michael McKevitt's sentencing last week.
"We have a new team in the Department of Constitutional Affairs, and as such we looked at the issue afresh.
"I looked at this issue and thought there was a clear, strong case for Government support, so that the case would not collapse.
"The decision was made before McKevitt's sentence, and when I heard the decision, I was delighted. If anything it has strengthened this action, but it was certainly not dependent on it," he said.
'Continuing investigations'
Emphasising the need to reassure the public that police investigations were "alive and continuing", Ms Kennedy, said: "I would like to take this opportunity to reassure the public and the families that the police investigations remains a live criminal investigation. And I am hopeful that there will be criminal prosecutions arriving from the investigations.
"It remains one of the largest criminal investigations in the UK and I have been regularly briefed and I know that the police have been in contact with the families and will continue to do so until they solve the issue.
"The decision to offer this funding is not in any way a 'buy-off, this is one the worst atrocities in Northern Ireland and we have serious ongoing investigations and I am confident and positive that they will continue," she said.
'Positive news'
Describing the decision as "great and positive news" for the families, Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aidan, died in the atrocity, said: '"I would like to thank the Ministers for coming here this morning and spending time in the Memorial Garden and for visiting the bomb site to see exactly where this happened in Omagh.
"I would also like to thank our solicitors who through difficult times stayed with us.
"It has been a long, hard struggle and this hopefully will be a light at the end of the tunnel, where the families will have their day in both the civil and criminal courts.
"We are absolutely delighted and are very happy that the government has at last seen the merit in the families' case. And I look forward to seeing those five people in court," he said.
The money will now enable relatives to pursue their claim for �10 million in damages against a group of five suspects which includes Michael McKevitt, who was jailed last week for 20 years in the Republic for directing terrorism.
Warmly welcoming the government funding support, the UUP's Mr. Roy Beggs, who sponsored a number of House of Commons Early Day Motions seeking support for the Omagh Victims' legal trust, said: "I am delighted that the Government has finally agreed to subsidise this most important of court actions.
"All the families have ever wanted was justice for their loved ones. This additional funding now gives them the chance to achieve it. I wish them well in what will still be a number of very difficult months ahead."
Also welcoming the decision, local SDLP councillor, Mr. Joe Byrne, said: "This is welcome news for the Omagh victims' families and is a credit to their efforts and the campaign they have led to seek justice.
"There must also be a determined effort in relation to the ongoing criminal investigation. The British and Irish Governments have a public duty to pursue those responsible for planning and delivering the bomb with a view to securing prosecutions and convictions," he said.
by Karen McPhilemy
RELATIVES of the Omagh bomb victims who met yesterday (Wednesday) with two Government ministers to discuss the government decision to contribute �800,000 towards their civil legal action against five Real IRA suspects, have described the news as "light at the end of the tunnel".
The visit came just two days prior to the fifth anniversary of the Omagh atrocity which claimed 31 lives, including unborn twins.
Representatives of families of those killed in the explosion met with Lord Filken, Permanent Under-Secretary of the Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA) , and NIO Security Minister, Jane Kennedy, at the Memorial Garden, off Drumragh Avenue, before making their way down to the bomb site at Market Street.
The fine print of the proposed financial support was to be outlined during a private meeting at the Silverbirch Hotel later yesterday, where they were to discuss what would happen if the bill rises beyond the anticipated additional �800,000
The families have already raised �1.2m towards the bill, but an estimated �800,000 more was needed.
And after months of consultation with the DCA, Secretary of State, Mr. Paul Murphy, confirmed on Friday that the Government was to help the relatives pay the total bill.
Speaking with the relatives at the Memorial Garden, Lord Filken described his visit as a "great privilege".
He said: "It is a privilege to be here with the families and to recognise the enormous work they have done over the past five years, to try and find justice and resolution.
"The Government decided it would support this action and have made a clear commitment that we will give civil legal aid support towards this action. The details of this and how it will be done will be discussed during a meeting later today.
"It is very important that this action moves forward and that the efforts given by so many people in Northern Ireland to support this action are not wasted or aborted," he said.
When asked whether he thought this decision would set precedence for other groups to seek Government funding with civil action cases, Lord Filken was adamant it would not.
"Exceptional case"
"No it will not, because we will do this in a way that makes clear that this is an exceptional issue with very exceptional circumstances.
"One always hopes and prays that something like this won't happen again, but if it does our minds will not be closed. However, we are talking about major terrorist destruction."
Lord Filken added that he hoped the funding would come into play "as soon as possible.
"Hopefully, the funding will be made available in a matter of months, perhaps even November. I cannot say any more on the matter nor can I say whether further action will be stopped until it is received, as this is one of the topics I will be discussing in further detail with the families later today."
The Minister stressed that the decision to allocate the funding was not influenced by Real IRA chief Michael McKevitt's sentencing last week.
"We have a new team in the Department of Constitutional Affairs, and as such we looked at the issue afresh.
"I looked at this issue and thought there was a clear, strong case for Government support, so that the case would not collapse.
"The decision was made before McKevitt's sentence, and when I heard the decision, I was delighted. If anything it has strengthened this action, but it was certainly not dependent on it," he said.
'Continuing investigations'
Emphasising the need to reassure the public that police investigations were "alive and continuing", Ms Kennedy, said: "I would like to take this opportunity to reassure the public and the families that the police investigations remains a live criminal investigation. And I am hopeful that there will be criminal prosecutions arriving from the investigations.
"It remains one of the largest criminal investigations in the UK and I have been regularly briefed and I know that the police have been in contact with the families and will continue to do so until they solve the issue.
"The decision to offer this funding is not in any way a 'buy-off, this is one the worst atrocities in Northern Ireland and we have serious ongoing investigations and I am confident and positive that they will continue," she said.
'Positive news'
Describing the decision as "great and positive news" for the families, Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aidan, died in the atrocity, said: '"I would like to thank the Ministers for coming here this morning and spending time in the Memorial Garden and for visiting the bomb site to see exactly where this happened in Omagh.
"I would also like to thank our solicitors who through difficult times stayed with us.
"It has been a long, hard struggle and this hopefully will be a light at the end of the tunnel, where the families will have their day in both the civil and criminal courts.
"We are absolutely delighted and are very happy that the government has at last seen the merit in the families' case. And I look forward to seeing those five people in court," he said.
The money will now enable relatives to pursue their claim for �10 million in damages against a group of five suspects which includes Michael McKevitt, who was jailed last week for 20 years in the Republic for directing terrorism.
Warmly welcoming the government funding support, the UUP's Mr. Roy Beggs, who sponsored a number of House of Commons Early Day Motions seeking support for the Omagh Victims' legal trust, said: "I am delighted that the Government has finally agreed to subsidise this most important of court actions.
"All the families have ever wanted was justice for their loved ones. This additional funding now gives them the chance to achieve it. I wish them well in what will still be a number of very difficult months ahead."
Also welcoming the decision, local SDLP councillor, Mr. Joe Byrne, said: "This is welcome news for the Omagh victims' families and is a credit to their efforts and the campaign they have led to seek justice.
"There must also be a determined effort in relation to the ongoing criminal investigation. The British and Irish Governments have a public duty to pursue those responsible for planning and delivering the bomb with a view to securing prosecutions and convictions," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1612
Published Date: 14-Aug-03
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