OMAGH CIVIL ACTION TO BE EXTENDED INTO AUTUMN
Omagh civil action to be extended into autumn
A civil action against five men suspected of the 1998 Omagh bombing is expected to extend into the autumn.
An extra week of hearings is being planned in Dublin in an effort to complete all evidence from Garda witnesses, it emerged on Friday.
The multi-million-pound compensation case had been expected to end before the High Court in Belfast goes into recess at the end of June, with judgement delivered later.
But Mr Justice Morgan had been told it was unlikely that this schedule would be met.
With neither side asking him to take the unusual step of sitting during the summer, the judge said the hearings would resume in September.
It is understood it could then take some weeks to finalise submissions.
Relatives of some of the 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, killed in the Real IRA atrocity are suing Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Seamus McKenna, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly for damages. All five deny liability.
The trial, which has been running since April 7, returned to Belfast after a week in Dublin.
Plans to resume hearing evidence from Garda witnesses over three days at Dublin's Four Courts later this month were already in place.
However, that session is expected to be dominated by the cross-examination of gardai by Murphy's legal team.
Mr Justice Morgan said arrangements would be made with the authorities in Dublin to arrange another suitable week in June.
The case was adjourned until May 27.
A civil action against five men suspected of the 1998 Omagh bombing is expected to extend into the autumn.
An extra week of hearings is being planned in Dublin in an effort to complete all evidence from Garda witnesses, it emerged on Friday.
The multi-million-pound compensation case had been expected to end before the High Court in Belfast goes into recess at the end of June, with judgement delivered later.
But Mr Justice Morgan had been told it was unlikely that this schedule would be met.
With neither side asking him to take the unusual step of sitting during the summer, the judge said the hearings would resume in September.
It is understood it could then take some weeks to finalise submissions.
Relatives of some of the 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, killed in the Real IRA atrocity are suing Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Seamus McKenna, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly for damages. All five deny liability.
The trial, which has been running since April 7, returned to Belfast after a week in Dublin.
Plans to resume hearing evidence from Garda witnesses over three days at Dublin's Four Courts later this month were already in place.
However, that session is expected to be dominated by the cross-examination of gardai by Murphy's legal team.
Mr Justice Morgan said arrangements would be made with the authorities in Dublin to arrange another suitable week in June.
The case was adjourned until May 27.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1949
Published Date: 22-May-08
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