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Racing car star donates £100,000 to civil action fund
BY JOHN McCUSKER

Warrington dinner takes total to over £1 million
FORMULA One driver, Eddie Irvine has handed over a £100,000 donation to the campaign to bring a civil action against the Omagh bombers.
Word of the windfall comes just days after a major fundraising event in Warrington during which Bob Geldof vowed to help get justice for relatives of those who died in the atrocity.
Irvine's contribution is thought to bring the fund's total to over £1 million, with just a matter of months left to raise up to £2 million needed to bring a groundbreaking civil action against members of the Real IRA before the courts. It is believed to be among the largest donation handed over to the fund to date.
Speaking prior to Friday night's fundraising dinner in Warrington, Bob Geldof said those who carried out the attacks should not get away with the deeds they carried out.
PLEDGES
Around 180 people attended the £100-a-head event with others promising their support through £50 donation pledges.
In March 1993, two children died when bombs exploded in litter bins in Warrington town centre.
The former frontman of the Boomtown Rats said: "August 1998 was our September 11. A plan was made to destroy life randomly.
"The civil action is a whole new weapon against terrorism. It's a means of showing our contempt for the killers to their faces by exposing them and having them found guilty.
"It was a crime that's still beyond belief. The killers are walking around with smirks on their faces. We cannot let them get away with it," he added.
Families of those killed in the Market Street attack travelled to Warrington for the event.
Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Self Help and Support Group had earlier in the day attended a ceremony to mark the 28th anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. As a result of problems with air traffic control, he was unavoidably delayed from attending the entire Warrington event.
THANKED
However, he thanked those who had turned out in support of the families' actions.
"This was a very successful fundraiser which enjoyed a lot of support from businesses, those affected by the Warrington tragedy and also other victims of the Northern Ireland troubles. It is important we raise the money and we welcome all , the support we can get," he added.
Victor Barker, who lost his 12-year-old son James in the bombing, said he was overwhelmed by the support shown towards the civil case.
"It's amazing," he said. "This is the first time we have held a function of this kind in the north of England and to have so many people support us is fantastic."
Among those attending the event were former Secretary of State Peter Mandelson, First Minister David Trimble and journalist and TV personality Mariella Frostrup.