OMAGH FAMILIES LEGAL AID
Omagh families' legal aid
By JON CLEMENTS
FAMILIES of the Omagh bomb victims last night welcomed a government decision to grant them legal aid for representation at inquests into the atrocity.
They were originally told they would not get legal aid because it did not apply to coroners courts in Northern Ireland.
Twenty-nine people were killed when a Real IRA car bomb ripped through Omagh in August 1998.
Michael Gallagher lost son Aiden, 21, and founded the Omagh Self help Support Group.
He said: "We are very grateful to the government for this small mercy and for listening to us.
"It shows that the government is aware of our needs and has responded to our requests for legal aid.
"It will help take the stress off the families when they attend the court and will help us get some questions answered."
The Omagh inquests begin on September 6 and are expected to last up to a month.
Mr Gallagher added: "We wanted solicitors to represent us but with the inquests set to last so long the expense was simply too great.
"Now that the government has given us legal aid that is less of a problem."
By JON CLEMENTS
FAMILIES of the Omagh bomb victims last night welcomed a government decision to grant them legal aid for representation at inquests into the atrocity.
They were originally told they would not get legal aid because it did not apply to coroners courts in Northern Ireland.
Twenty-nine people were killed when a Real IRA car bomb ripped through Omagh in August 1998.
Michael Gallagher lost son Aiden, 21, and founded the Omagh Self help Support Group.
He said: "We are very grateful to the government for this small mercy and for listening to us.
"It shows that the government is aware of our needs and has responded to our requests for legal aid.
"It will help take the stress off the families when they attend the court and will help us get some questions answered."
The Omagh inquests begin on September 6 and are expected to last up to a month.
Mr Gallagher added: "We wanted solicitors to represent us but with the inquests set to last so long the expense was simply too great.
"Now that the government has given us legal aid that is less of a problem."
Further Information
Publisher: THE MIRROR
Ref: TM/108
Published Date: 26-Jul-00
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