Omagh bomb suspect seeks £15,000 over police questioning

AN Omagh bombing suspect is seeking up to £15,000 in compensation, claiming he was traumatised after being shown photographs of the atrocity during questioning.

Stunned relatives of the dead have protested to the British Government, urging ministers to resist any payout.

The man, from south Armagh, was among dozens of republicans interviewed by detectives investigating the August 1998 Real IRA outrage, which killed 29 people.

At one stage during the interrogation, harrowing photographs of the carnage were allegedly produced and shown to the man. He claimed police offered him no counselling for any trauma brought on by exposure to the shocking images.

Police last night refused to comment on the ongoing legal action, which could be heard by a judge at the Northern Ireland High Court in Belfast.

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern confirmed last night his former special adviser on Northern Ireland, Dr Martin Mansergh, had contact with the 32 County Sovereignty Committee weeks before the Omagh bomb atrocity.

Mr Ahern also said that Belfast priest Father Alex Reid met the organisation.Mr Ahern said that following the announcement of the ceasefire in September 1998, the Government communicated the message that the Real IRA should not only maintain their ceasefire but should disband and cease to exist by the end of that year.

He was responding to a question from Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny.