Omagh families sue Real IRA

Relatives of victims of the Omagh bombing are suing five men with alleged links to the Real IRA.

Civil writs seeking compensation have been issued at the Northern Ireland High Court in Belfast.

One is also against the organisation itself.

The men being sued are Seamus McKenna, of Silverbridge, Newry, Co Down, John Michael Henry McKevitt, of Blackrock, Dundalk, Co Louth, Liam Campbell, of Mount Pleasant, Dundalk, Co Louth, Michael Colm Murphy, of Ravensdale, Dundalk, Co Louth and Seamus Daly, of Culloville, near Castleblaney, Co Monaghan.

The families are attempting to raise £1m to cover the costs of the legal challenge.

Nobody has been charged with any of the murders, but a man accused by the Gardai of plotting to cause an explosion is to due to stand trial in Dublin later.

Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was among 29 killed in the car bombing three years ago, said: "We had no choice but to take this action.

"Our families are not capable of fighting for themselves, but they deserve justice and it's our responsibility to make sure it's delivered."

A source close to the families' legal team said they were breaking new ground in taking the case.

"It's the first time in the world a writ has been served against a terrorist organisation and we will be using the lack of precedent as a challenge," he said. "We will be pushing the law to the limit."