Omagh accused given month to find lawyers

FIVE men being sued by Omagh bomb victims are to be given a four-week deadline to bring in a new legal team.

Even though lawyers for Real IRA chief Michael McKevitt and the other defendants have pulled out, the €20 million civil action by relatives of those killed in the massacre is proceeding.

In a hearing at the Northern Ireland High Court yesterday, barristers for the families taking the landmark case pressed for access to papers on criminal trials involving the five in the Republic.

But before Mr Justice Morgan makes any ruling on the request he signalled his intention to offer the men a solicitor, senior and junior counsel providing legal advice. Although he will wait until barrister Brett Lockhart, for the Omagh families, consults with senior QC Lord Brennan, the move is expected to be made in court today.

The men should be given until February 3 to respond, it was suggested. If the offer is rejected, Mr Justice Morgan may ask the Attorney General to become involved to ensure no contempt of court in any request to obtain papers from another jurisdiction.

McKevitt, aged 54, was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in 2003 for running the Real IRA, the organisation which murdered 29 people and unborn twins in the August 1998 Omagh atrocity. However, after he lost a battle last year for legal aid to defend himself against the civil action, his barrister said it was impossible for them to defend the action.

Lawyers for the other four men, Seamus Daly, Seamus McKenna, Liam Campbell and Colm Murphy, have also ended their representation. After Mr Lockhart expressed concern over further delays in getting the case started, Mr Morgan insisted it was vital to get it right.

“Even though they are not here, if there’s an obligation on this court to ensure the defendants have legal representation on this issue, it’s important they have it.”