Decision on transcripts for Omagh civil case due
Lawyers representing the relatives are seeking the material as part of the €20 million civil action against five individuals and the Real IRA for the 1998 bombing that claimed the lives of 29 people and two unborn children.
The five, Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy, Seamus Daly and Seamus McKenna are the defendants in the civil case being taken in the High Court in Belfast.
Mr McKevitt, Mr Campbell and Mr Daly are all serving sentences for Real IRA activities, while Mr Murphy faces a retrial after his conviction for conspiring to organise the Omagh bombing was quashed.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden died in the 1998 atrocity, believes the documents are important.
“Our lawyers want them and they went to considerable trouble to try and get them, so I would say they are very important,” he said.
The relatives first asked the Government for the transcripts and books of evidence to be handed over. However, the Justice Department said it was a matter for the courts.
When applications were made to the Special Criminal Court, lawyers for three of the defendants lodged objections on the grounds their constitutional rights would be undermined.
During hearings before the Special Criminal Court, Lord Brennan QC, for the families, said the High Court in Belfast was willing to make an order of discovery against the defendants but did not want to offend the jurisdiction of the bench in Dublin.
Lord Brennan said any decision to hand over transcripts was an administrative decision and within the jurisdiction of the Special Criminal Court.
However, Patrick McCarthy SC, appearing for McKevitt, Daly, Campbell and McKenna, argued the court had no jurisdiction to order the disclosure of the transcripts.
The High Court hearing is expected to take place some time later this year, four years after the civil action was launched.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
