Arrested couple quizzed about Omagh bombing

TWO hundred police and soldiers stormed a south Armagh village early yesterday and arrested a man and a woman for questioning about the 1998 Omagh bombing.

Sources close to the investigation said the arrests were significant but there was little official comment.

It is understood they are a husband and wife, originally from south of the border, who were visiting the village of Jonesborough when arrested. They can be held for up to seven days.

The raid on the republican border stronghold took place early in the morning. Police swooped, as army helicopters provided cover. Security forces may have feared a repeat of a recent operation to arrest dissident republican suspects in the village; there was a mini-riot and four police officers were injured.

The operation took place just hours before lawyers representing the relatives of victims of the bombing met Justice Minister Michael McDowell.

Mr McDowell was asked afterwards if whether he would favour gardaí testifying in a civil action in the North, which is being taken by the relatives of the Omagh victims. He said the government would be willing to support the idea subject to legal advice from the Attorney General Rory O'Hanlon. Solicitor Jason McCue, representing the relatives, said they believed this would happen.

The relatives due to meet Mr McDowell on Monday are also pushing the government to help pay for the release of transcripts of the trial of recently convicted Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt. There were references made to the Omagh bombing during the trial.

A civil action for compensation has been launched against four men the relatives accuse of masterminding the bombing which left 29 dead, one of them a pregnant mother expecting twins.

Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden died in the tragedy, welcomed yesterday's arrests, but he said he would be happier if someone was charged and subsequently convicted with the multiple deaths.

Over 30 arrests have been made in connection with the Omagh bombing but only one person, Dundalk building contractor Colm Murphy, has been convicted in connection with the plot. He received a 14 year sentence after his mobile phones were found to have been used by the plotters.