Omagh families to sue bombers - Report

Relatives of those killed in the Omagh bombing may be able to pursue in the courts those suspected of planning and carrying out the atrocity, it was reported today.

The families of 29 people and unborn twins killed in the August 1998 bombing have raised enough money for a historic civil action against those suspected of having been behind the Real IRA attack, according to the Daily Mail.

The newspaper said that with just days to go before a deadline expired for launching the civil action, the Omagh Victims Legal Trust was able to give solicitors the go ahead to serve writs on five men believed to have been involved in the planting of the 500lb car bomb which devastated the border town.

After the writs are served, a court hearing in Belfast will follow which will enable lawyers acting for the families to produce evidence which they believe connects the suspects to the atrocity.

The Omagh bomb was the biggest single atrocity in Northern Ireland’s bloody history.

A spokesman for the trust described the development as ‘‘a fantastic breakthrough’’.

‘‘Both we and the families had real concerns that we simply would not be able to raise enough support in time,’’ he said.

‘‘This means they can go ahead, but the fund-raising campaign does not end here.

‘‘There will obviously be other legal costs over the months ahead as the case comes to court.’’

The Omagh families’ legal fund has received donations from members of the public and have been supported by many high profile figures from the world of politics, entertainment and sport.

The driving force behind Live Aid, the pop singer Sir Bob Geldof joined forces with former Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson and Ulster First Minister David Trimble in publicly backing the campaign.

US President George W Bush wrote a letter of support to the father of one the Omagh victims.

It is understood Northern Ireland Formula One racing driver Eddie Irvine also contributed to the fund.

Security forces in Northern Ireland have so far failed to prosecute anyone for the Real IRA bomb.

A bitter row erupted last year between the former Royal Ulster Constabulary Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan and the Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan when a report by her office into the Omagh bomb investigation accused him and his senior officers of defective leadership and poor judgment.

Special Branch officers were accused of ignoring information prior to the bomb attack that dissident republicans were planning an attack.

Last August, solicitors acting for the families launched a civil action in Belfast High Court but had 12 months to raise enough money to serve writs on the alleged perpetrators of the bombing.

Mr Mandelson last night welcomed the development.

‘‘Bringing members of the Real IRA into court to face up to the responsibility for their actions will heal a deep wound as well as putting further pressure on individuals whose overriding aim is to wreck the peace in Ulster,’’ he told the newspaper.