MCKEVITTS LEGAL AID WITHDRAWN
McKevitt's legal aid withdrawn
BY JACQUELINE COURTNEY
RELATIVES of the Omagh bomb victims have won what has been described as a 'victory' following the axing of legal aid to terrorist godfather, Michael McKevitt.
Kevin Skelton, whose wife Philomena was among the many killed in the tragedy, said it was an absolute disgrace that McKevitt was ever granted legal aid in the first place.
He was delighted the claim had now been revoked and described is as a victory for the Omagh families.
"McKevitt was granted legal aid to allow him to defend the civil action brought by us, the relatives of victims of the Omagh bombing, much to our disbelief," he said.
Relatives were outraged when they learned last year that 53-Year-old McKevitt and fellow republican Liam Campbell had been awarded public money to contest their unprecedented legal action for damages brought against them and three other republicans.
The Omagh relatives were awarded �800,000 by the Government last August to help mount the civil action against the five men whom they allege were principal figures in the Real IRA at the time of the 1998 bombing.
Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aidan died in the 1998 explosion, said it was an insult to the victims and their relatives that taxpayers' money was awarded to two convicted IRA terrorists to fight the action.
The relatives' anger was fuelled further last year when it was revealed that the Republic's Criminal Assets Bureau was moving to seize an estimated 500,000 Euros in bank accounts controlled by Campbell.
Both Campbell and McKevitt were identified by the Garda and the PSNI as leading figures in the Real IRA at the time of the Omagh bombing, and both were later convicted on terrorist charges in the Republic.
Legal aid was granted to McKevitt before he was convicted in Dublin last August of directing terrorism and sentenced to 20 years in jail.
Recently a judge ordered a retrial for Liam Campbell, who is serving three years for membership of the Real IRA.
In November Michael Gallagher called on Sir Kenneth Bloomfield, who became chairman of the new Legal Services Commission to order a review of the original decision to grant the Real IRA duo public funds. Mr Gallagher sought assurances from Sir Kenneth, the former head of the Civil Service in Northern Ireland, that no public money would ever again be diverted to enable terrorists or criminals to contest civil cases.
It is not known how much public money has been paid to McKevitt and Campbell's legal teams involved in the case during the last 12 months, but it is understood that the total figure could be as much as �500,000. Both Mr Gallagher and Mr Skelton have also called for similar action to be taken with Campbell's legal aid application.
BY JACQUELINE COURTNEY
RELATIVES of the Omagh bomb victims have won what has been described as a 'victory' following the axing of legal aid to terrorist godfather, Michael McKevitt.
Kevin Skelton, whose wife Philomena was among the many killed in the tragedy, said it was an absolute disgrace that McKevitt was ever granted legal aid in the first place.
He was delighted the claim had now been revoked and described is as a victory for the Omagh families.
"McKevitt was granted legal aid to allow him to defend the civil action brought by us, the relatives of victims of the Omagh bombing, much to our disbelief," he said.
Relatives were outraged when they learned last year that 53-Year-old McKevitt and fellow republican Liam Campbell had been awarded public money to contest their unprecedented legal action for damages brought against them and three other republicans.
The Omagh relatives were awarded �800,000 by the Government last August to help mount the civil action against the five men whom they allege were principal figures in the Real IRA at the time of the 1998 bombing.
Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aidan died in the 1998 explosion, said it was an insult to the victims and their relatives that taxpayers' money was awarded to two convicted IRA terrorists to fight the action.
The relatives' anger was fuelled further last year when it was revealed that the Republic's Criminal Assets Bureau was moving to seize an estimated 500,000 Euros in bank accounts controlled by Campbell.
Both Campbell and McKevitt were identified by the Garda and the PSNI as leading figures in the Real IRA at the time of the Omagh bombing, and both were later convicted on terrorist charges in the Republic.
Legal aid was granted to McKevitt before he was convicted in Dublin last August of directing terrorism and sentenced to 20 years in jail.
Recently a judge ordered a retrial for Liam Campbell, who is serving three years for membership of the Real IRA.
In November Michael Gallagher called on Sir Kenneth Bloomfield, who became chairman of the new Legal Services Commission to order a review of the original decision to grant the Real IRA duo public funds. Mr Gallagher sought assurances from Sir Kenneth, the former head of the Civil Service in Northern Ireland, that no public money would ever again be diverted to enable terrorists or criminals to contest civil cases.
It is not known how much public money has been paid to McKevitt and Campbell's legal teams involved in the case during the last 12 months, but it is understood that the total figure could be as much as �500,000. Both Mr Gallagher and Mr Skelton have also called for similar action to be taken with Campbell's legal aid application.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1630
Published Date: 15-Jan-04
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