OMAGH FAMILIES MAY SEEK US PRESIDENTIAL HELP OVER CIVIL ACTION
Omagh families may seek US Presidential help over civil action
AMERICAN President George Bush, could be called upon for assistance by relatives of Omagh bomb victims in a bid to have the testimony of an FBI agent sworn into their civil court action.
The decision to contact the US president if needed, was confirmed this week by Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Self Help and Support Group, who said the relatives would seek help from President Bush if the US Ambassador in Britain is unable to help.
Mr Gallagher, whose son Aiden was one of those killed in the 1998 atrocity, recently wrote to the US Ambassador in London to try to get him to persuade the FBI to allow its agents to testify in the civil action for damages they have brought against five republicans.
The relatives of the 29 people killed, including unborn twins, were told in March that the main witness David Rupert wouldn't be giving evidence in the civil case.
The giant US trucking company boss successfully infiltrated the Real IRA for the FBI and was expected to give evidence linking the five defendants to the terrorist organisation.
But the FBI confirmed to Jason McHugh, the lawyer for the relatives, that Rupert is ill and that they have major concerns for his security even if he was only brought into the court proceedings via a video link from the States.
The American security organisation's Washington Bureau has also refused to allow Rupert's handlers to travel to the UK to confirm that sworn statements Rupert has made about the Real IRA activists are genuine.
Describing Rupert's statements as a 'highly important' part of evidence in the trial, Mr Gallagher, said: "We have written to the US Ambassador in Britain in the hope that he will be able to intervene with the FBI and allow David Rupert's handlers to come to the court to prove the statements he made were authentic, because at the moment they have ruled out that possibility. We are hoping he might be able to persuade the FBI to change its policy on this.
"If he is unable to do anything then we will be seeking assistance from American President George Bush, as he has been helpful towards us in previous times."
AMERICAN President George Bush, could be called upon for assistance by relatives of Omagh bomb victims in a bid to have the testimony of an FBI agent sworn into their civil court action.
The decision to contact the US president if needed, was confirmed this week by Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Self Help and Support Group, who said the relatives would seek help from President Bush if the US Ambassador in Britain is unable to help.
Mr Gallagher, whose son Aiden was one of those killed in the 1998 atrocity, recently wrote to the US Ambassador in London to try to get him to persuade the FBI to allow its agents to testify in the civil action for damages they have brought against five republicans.
The relatives of the 29 people killed, including unborn twins, were told in March that the main witness David Rupert wouldn't be giving evidence in the civil case.
The giant US trucking company boss successfully infiltrated the Real IRA for the FBI and was expected to give evidence linking the five defendants to the terrorist organisation.
But the FBI confirmed to Jason McHugh, the lawyer for the relatives, that Rupert is ill and that they have major concerns for his security even if he was only brought into the court proceedings via a video link from the States.
The American security organisation's Washington Bureau has also refused to allow Rupert's handlers to travel to the UK to confirm that sworn statements Rupert has made about the Real IRA activists are genuine.
Describing Rupert's statements as a 'highly important' part of evidence in the trial, Mr Gallagher, said: "We have written to the US Ambassador in Britain in the hope that he will be able to intervene with the FBI and allow David Rupert's handlers to come to the court to prove the statements he made were authentic, because at the moment they have ruled out that possibility. We are hoping he might be able to persuade the FBI to change its policy on this.
"If he is unable to do anything then we will be seeking assistance from American President George Bush, as he has been helpful towards us in previous times."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1881
Published Date: 19-Apr-07
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