LEGAL COSTS COULD SCUTTLE OMAGH BOMB CASE
Legal costs could scuttle Omagh bomb case
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
THE civil action against the Omagh bombers could collapse because of the spiralling legal costs being run up by London legal firm H2o.
Award-winning journalist John Ware, whose Panorama documentary 'Who bombed Omagh?' sparked the legal action against named suspects, questioned the high legal costs in a newspaper article on Sunday.
However, Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Self-Help and Support Group, said everyone was concerned from the outset that the costs of 'London solicitors' would be very high but the families felt they had no choice but to choose the legal team most likely to win.
He said this was being seen by relatives of those who died as a last chance to make the bombers pay and, most importantly it might prevent another atrocity if the perpetrators thought there was a law which would make them pay for their crime.
Mr Gallagher said he was quietly confident that they will win the case "We have had unbelievable support from people all over the world and the celebrities who joined the campaign really helped our case.
"The fundraising is continuing and we hope we will have enough to pay the bills.
Mr Gallagher said he has great respect for John Ware: "He is an honourable and decent person and there is no doubt that he has done good by the people of Omagh".
But Mr Gallagher went on to say that any negative publicity of this kind does have a bad effect on fundraising. "We have spent a lot of money to bring this test case which is very important. I hope that the money keeps coming in".
"It is almost at the final stage where we will be going to Court very soon," said Mr Gallagher.
Victor Barker, whose son James also died in the bomb, said he was confident that the civil case was being taken against the bombers would proceed.
"I have been involved in fund-raising throughout. The fund has trustees and they have monitored all the costs. We knew that more money would be needed and we are continuing to try to raise it.
"I am hopeful that we will be able to raise it and the case will go ahead because it is the only justice that we will receive," said Mr Barker. "It is a farce that the families have been forced to pursue this avenue and raise the money ourselves because the government is unwilling to bring a prosecution.
He added "Working as a lawyer, it never ceases to amaze me how high the legal costs are in London, but there will be a full examination of all the costs in more detail at a later date.
Mr Barker said the important is that the fund-raising continues and that the families are able to get some form of justice in court.
One of the founding members of the group and the sub-committee to fight the legal case was Lawrence Rush. Speaking to the UlsterHerald this week, he said he was not surprised by the weekend revelation.
Mr Rush left the group and while supportive of its aims, he is taking his won civil suit against the Secretary of State and the Chief Constable.
Mr Rush said he was amazed to learn the legal costs charged per hour by London solicitors at the early meetings with legal firms.
"I believed there would not be enough money to finance the lawsuit given the exorbitant costs being incurred bring it through the courts," he said.
BY ROSETTA DONNELLY
THE civil action against the Omagh bombers could collapse because of the spiralling legal costs being run up by London legal firm H2o.
Award-winning journalist John Ware, whose Panorama documentary 'Who bombed Omagh?' sparked the legal action against named suspects, questioned the high legal costs in a newspaper article on Sunday.
However, Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Self-Help and Support Group, said everyone was concerned from the outset that the costs of 'London solicitors' would be very high but the families felt they had no choice but to choose the legal team most likely to win.
He said this was being seen by relatives of those who died as a last chance to make the bombers pay and, most importantly it might prevent another atrocity if the perpetrators thought there was a law which would make them pay for their crime.
Mr Gallagher said he was quietly confident that they will win the case "We have had unbelievable support from people all over the world and the celebrities who joined the campaign really helped our case.
"The fundraising is continuing and we hope we will have enough to pay the bills.
Mr Gallagher said he has great respect for John Ware: "He is an honourable and decent person and there is no doubt that he has done good by the people of Omagh".
But Mr Gallagher went on to say that any negative publicity of this kind does have a bad effect on fundraising. "We have spent a lot of money to bring this test case which is very important. I hope that the money keeps coming in".
"It is almost at the final stage where we will be going to Court very soon," said Mr Gallagher.
Victor Barker, whose son James also died in the bomb, said he was confident that the civil case was being taken against the bombers would proceed.
"I have been involved in fund-raising throughout. The fund has trustees and they have monitored all the costs. We knew that more money would be needed and we are continuing to try to raise it.
"I am hopeful that we will be able to raise it and the case will go ahead because it is the only justice that we will receive," said Mr Barker. "It is a farce that the families have been forced to pursue this avenue and raise the money ourselves because the government is unwilling to bring a prosecution.
He added "Working as a lawyer, it never ceases to amaze me how high the legal costs are in London, but there will be a full examination of all the costs in more detail at a later date.
Mr Barker said the important is that the fund-raising continues and that the families are able to get some form of justice in court.
One of the founding members of the group and the sub-committee to fight the legal case was Lawrence Rush. Speaking to the UlsterHerald this week, he said he was not surprised by the weekend revelation.
Mr Rush left the group and while supportive of its aims, he is taking his won civil suit against the Secretary of State and the Chief Constable.
Mr Rush said he was amazed to learn the legal costs charged per hour by London solicitors at the early meetings with legal firms.
"I believed there would not be enough money to finance the lawsuit given the exorbitant costs being incurred bring it through the courts," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1541
Published Date: 13-Mar-03
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