First minister can’t use office to back Omagh prosecution

The Stormont First and Deputy First Ministers have been advised they cannot use their offices to support the campaign to raise funds for a private prosecution against those suspected of planting the Omagh bomb, it emerged today.

First Minister David Trimble (UUP, Upper Bann) told the Assembly that legal advisors told them as officeholders they could not throw their weight behind the prosecution being taken by relatives of those killed in the Real IRA bomb.

Fundraising for the private prosecution by the Omagh Victims Support Group received a boost last week when it was publicly endorsed by four former Northern Ireland Secretaries - Peter Mandelson, Peter Brooke, Tom King and Lord Merlyn Rees.

Mr Trimble was asked today by Oliver Gibson (DUP, West Tyrone), whose niece Esther was among the 29 killed in the August 1998 bomb attack, if the First and Deputy First Ministers were ‘‘prepared to make a statement on their commitment and attitude to that privately launched initiative?’’

The Ulster Unionist leader replied: ‘‘I am aware of the prosecution that is being contemplated by a number of victims of the Omagh bomb and also the support that has been given in a personal capacity by the previous Secretaries of State - and I do emphasise that reference to a personal capacity.

‘‘In terms of our official position, it is not we are advised - and we have taken advice - we have been advised it would not be appropriate for our officers, our position as officeholders to be engaged in what is a private prosecution.

‘‘On the other hand, I must say that I fully understand the desire of the victims of the Omagh bomb to see that justice is done and we could be very anxious to see that justice is done in an appropriate way.’’