UH/1735

Omagh bomb suspect faces terror charge
Fury as legal aid is granted to bomb suspects
BY JACQUELINE COURTNEY

Victims' families have to fund civil action themselves
NEWS that two of the Omagh bomb suspects are to get legal aid while families of the victims are being forced to fund the multi million pounds lawsuit themselves -has caused untold anger in circles throughout the area.
Omagh bomb suspects, Liam Campbell and Michael McKevitt have been granted legal aid by both the Irish Government and the Legal Aid Department of the Law Society of Northern Ireland for the forthcoming civil action being brought by the victims families.
And the families have labelled the news as a 'disgrace' after the NIO confirmed that legal aid has been awarded to the pair for the civil action.
Speaking to the Ulster Herald earlier this week, Michael Gallagher, whose son, Aidan was one of the 29 fatalities of that terrible day, described the action as totally wrong.
The Omagh families, he said, were not in receipt of legal aid and were being forced to fund the action themselves.
Mr Gallagher added it was a disgrace that the pair were receiving assistance despite their reported wealth in the Republic.
"We have to raise £2 million ourselves to fund this case and yet these people, who the Irish government have identified as having significant resources, have been granted legal aid. It just beggars belief," said Mr Gallagher..
However, he did welcome the commitment of East Antrim MP Roy Beggs to write to Irish Premier Bertie Ahern to discover what the Irish Government knows about the extent of Campbell and McKevitt's holdings in the Republic.
Mr Beggs also promised to continue to raise the Omagh matter in Parliament, saying: "The Omagh families deserve justice for their loved ones. I, along with so many others across the United Kingdom, the Irish Republic and beyond are determined that they will get it."
Mr Beggs, who has taken the plight of the Omagh Families to heart, said: "The fact that the Legal Aid Department in Northern Ireland were aware of the Irish Government's decision to provide funding for Campbell and McKevitt and yet approved the release of British taxpayers' money for repeat funding is almost unbelievable."
It is certainly immoral and wrong. One also has to remember, of course, that the Omagh families are not in receipt of legal aid and are being forced to fund the actions themselves from donations to the Omagh Victims' Legal Trust,' said Mr Beggs. "I Would reiterate Robin Cook's recent comment that if anyone has evidence that the defendants in this case may not have made a full declaration of their assets to the Legal Aid Department that information should be shared with the PSNI and the Legal Aid Department," he said.
The High Court action is due to start later this year when relatives of some of the 29 victims seek £10 million compensation from the group they blame for the outrage.
McKevitt, 51, who is on remand in Portlaoise prison facing charges of directing terrorism, has been named in court papers as an alleged 'Real IRA' member along with Campbell, 38, who is serving a sentence in Portlaoise for membership of an illegal organisation.
Also named are Colm Murphy, 51, the only person convicted so far in connection with the Omagh bomb, Seamus McKenna, 49, and Seamus Daly, 33.

SHARING IN LA MON GRIEF
Michael Gallagher attended the 25th Anniversary Service to remember the victims of the 1972 La Mon disaster.
He was accompanied by others from the town to the anniversary service to remember those who died in the IRA bomb. Mr Gallagher said it was important that they showed their support.