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Bomb bereaved father had head-to-head talks with Real IRA's political wing

Bid to persuade them to abandon violence - Victor Barker
CONFIRMATION came this week from the father of a 12-year-old boy killed in the Omagh bombing that he had face-to-face talks with the political wing of the Real IRA.
Victor Barker, whose son, James, was one of 29 people killed by the Real IRA in August 1998, confirmed he met members of the 32-County Sovereignty Movement in Swords, Co Dublin, last December in a bid to persuade them to abandon violence.
After the leaking of information about the secret meeting, Mr Barker said he did not regret the talks, but understood the surprise of some families of Omagh victims on learning about the discussions.
Insisting that he would meet them again, Mr Barker said: "By meeting the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, I was not in any way legitimising the Real IRA's campaign.
"I went there to help them understand what they did to James and other victims and to urge them to choose a path away from violence. We gave an undertaking on both sides that the meeting would remain confidential, although I am not naive enough to think that it would never, ever come to light.
"Everybody in situations like Omagh reacts in different ways and chooses their own way of dealing with the grief. And this is a path that I chose to pursue," he said.
Mr Barker said he had initiated the meeting, which took place on the same day as he met Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in Dublin. And he added that the 32 County Sovereignty Movement had not pursued further dialogue with him. Speaking on his feelings about the meeting, Mr Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son, Aidan, also died in the atrocity, said: "Basically every victim has their own way of dealing with trauma. Victor has always been sincere in what he is doing, but it's not a road that the group I represent is going to go down.
"We have taken a writ out against these people and will be meeting them in the High Court next year, and I hope they keep that appointment.
"I was surprised to learn about the talks held because Victor had always been at the forefront in the fight for justice and truth. But as I've already said, it is up- to every individual how they deal with tragedy. I understand why he wanted to keep that meeting out of the public domain.
"However, we will continue to pursue them in the way we always have in order to find out the whole truth about Omagh," he said.
Meanwhile, the creators of last year's award winning Bloody Sunday film are reported to be making a movie about the Omagh atrocity.
The new £3 million film will feature allegations that the RUC received a tip-off about the bomb days before it claimed the lives of 29 people.
The RTE and Irish Film Board sponsored film will also dramatise the row between former chief constable Ronnie Flanagan and police ombudsman, Nuala O'Loan.
The story is believed to focus on Mr Gallagher, whose son, Aidan, was killed in the August 1998 blast.