ENGLISH DAILY NEWSPAPER BACKS OMAGH FAMILIES
English daily newspaper backs Omagh families
By ADRIAN MULLAN
Civil action to be taken through the courts
FOUR families who lost children in the Omagh bomb will pursue, through Courts, those they believe to be responsible for the blast which killed 31 people.
The families have plans to take a series of civil actions against four people named in the BBC documentary 'Who bombed Omagh', a few weeks ago.
In a massive and unparalleled campaign launched on Saturday last, the UK newspaper paper, the Daily Mail set up a fighting fund which, it is hoped, will raise many thousands for the campaign.
Both the Gardai and the RUC have indicated in the past that they know who carried out the atrocity, however, none of the suspects have yet been brought to trial.
The relatives of murder victims; James Barker 12, Lorraine Wilson 15, Samantha McFarland 17, and 20 month-old Breda Devine, believe that taking the private prosecution may be the only way to get answers to their questions.
The Panorama programme, screened three weeks ago, sought to question four men as to their movements on the day of the bomb, however, the attempts of the journalist involved were largely unsuccessful.
Victor Barker, father of 12 year-old James said he does not believe that there can be peace without justice adding; "It's high time these people were made to account for their movements, and civil action is one way to do that. It may well be that in the course of that action other information might emerge which would help the police to pursue their criminal inquiry."
Mr Barker explained that the current plan was to take the civil action in the names of just four families who had children killed. "We chose a small cross-section to highlight the fact that so many children and young people were killed. This is not a political issue, it is not sectarian, it is a question of justice."
The Daily Mail's campaign entitled 'Justice for the Omagh Innocents' has already reported some early success with offers of support already flooding in from throughout the UK and Ireland and from both sides of the religious divide.
The Secretary of State, Peter Mandelson who was in Omagh at the beginning of the week, could not formally give his support to the idea, but neither would he condemn it saying that he fully understood the frustration and need for justice that inspired the move.
Northern Ireland's First Minister, David Trimble, said he fully supported the families in the quest for justice. "In the absence of action by the appropriate authorities I fully endorse the attempt being made by the families to bring this matter to court in an attempt to get justice."
MP for West Tyrone, William Thompson, expressed concerns that the private prosecution could prejudice any future criminal prosecution.
"They should think long and hard before going down that road. I understand the feelings of anger that the police have not brought a case but they haven't got enough evidence to take a case, which has to be beyond reasonable doubt.
"I understand that in a civil case they are dealing with the balance of probabilities. As I understand it the proof needed for a civil case is less than that for a criminal case.
"A private case won't put them in jail. I think there is still a reasonable possibility that the perpetrators will be brought to Court and charged with murder."
Mr Thompson drew parallels between the Stephen Lawrence case in Britain and the OJ Simpson case in the US, stressing that it was not simply enough to sue the people responsible, rather, they must be put behind bars.
Commenting on the confirmation that some of the families were preparing to proceed with private prosecutions, SDLP Assemblyman Joe Byrne
stated, "The British and Irish governments have a duty to apprehend and bring to justice the Omagh bombers.
"It is the the duty of the British and Irish governments to deliver justice to the people of Omagh. However, to date, they have failed to apprehend those responsible and I can understand the frustration of the families who want to proceed with a civil action against those suspected of being involved in the Omagh outrage."
By ADRIAN MULLAN
Civil action to be taken through the courts
FOUR families who lost children in the Omagh bomb will pursue, through Courts, those they believe to be responsible for the blast which killed 31 people.
The families have plans to take a series of civil actions against four people named in the BBC documentary 'Who bombed Omagh', a few weeks ago.
In a massive and unparalleled campaign launched on Saturday last, the UK newspaper paper, the Daily Mail set up a fighting fund which, it is hoped, will raise many thousands for the campaign.
Both the Gardai and the RUC have indicated in the past that they know who carried out the atrocity, however, none of the suspects have yet been brought to trial.
The relatives of murder victims; James Barker 12, Lorraine Wilson 15, Samantha McFarland 17, and 20 month-old Breda Devine, believe that taking the private prosecution may be the only way to get answers to their questions.
The Panorama programme, screened three weeks ago, sought to question four men as to their movements on the day of the bomb, however, the attempts of the journalist involved were largely unsuccessful.
Victor Barker, father of 12 year-old James said he does not believe that there can be peace without justice adding; "It's high time these people were made to account for their movements, and civil action is one way to do that. It may well be that in the course of that action other information might emerge which would help the police to pursue their criminal inquiry."
Mr Barker explained that the current plan was to take the civil action in the names of just four families who had children killed. "We chose a small cross-section to highlight the fact that so many children and young people were killed. This is not a political issue, it is not sectarian, it is a question of justice."
The Daily Mail's campaign entitled 'Justice for the Omagh Innocents' has already reported some early success with offers of support already flooding in from throughout the UK and Ireland and from both sides of the religious divide.
The Secretary of State, Peter Mandelson who was in Omagh at the beginning of the week, could not formally give his support to the idea, but neither would he condemn it saying that he fully understood the frustration and need for justice that inspired the move.
Northern Ireland's First Minister, David Trimble, said he fully supported the families in the quest for justice. "In the absence of action by the appropriate authorities I fully endorse the attempt being made by the families to bring this matter to court in an attempt to get justice."
MP for West Tyrone, William Thompson, expressed concerns that the private prosecution could prejudice any future criminal prosecution.
"They should think long and hard before going down that road. I understand the feelings of anger that the police have not brought a case but they haven't got enough evidence to take a case, which has to be beyond reasonable doubt.
"I understand that in a civil case they are dealing with the balance of probabilities. As I understand it the proof needed for a civil case is less than that for a criminal case.
"A private case won't put them in jail. I think there is still a reasonable possibility that the perpetrators will be brought to Court and charged with murder."
Mr Thompson drew parallels between the Stephen Lawrence case in Britain and the OJ Simpson case in the US, stressing that it was not simply enough to sue the people responsible, rather, they must be put behind bars.
Commenting on the confirmation that some of the families were preparing to proceed with private prosecutions, SDLP Assemblyman Joe Byrne
stated, "The British and Irish governments have a duty to apprehend and bring to justice the Omagh bombers.
"It is the the duty of the British and Irish governments to deliver justice to the people of Omagh. However, to date, they have failed to apprehend those responsible and I can understand the frustration of the families who want to proceed with a civil action against those suspected of being involved in the Omagh outrage."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1517
Published Date: 02-Nov-00
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