UH/1240

Bomb claim cost to top £17m

OVER £17 million is to be paid out in compensation by the British government to the victims of the Omagh bombing and to local traders who had premises destroyed in Government Minister, Adam Ingram said it is anticipated that the Compensation Agency will pay £9 million to the victims of the Real IRA blast, and a further £8 million is likely to be paid for damage caused to buildings, contents and vehicles.
His comments came in reply to a question by Ulster Unionist MP for West Tyrone, William Thompson, asking the Secretary of State what estimate had been made of the total compensation payable as a result of the Omagh bomb.
Mr Ingram pointed out that responsibility for the matter had been delegated to the Compensation Agency.