Omagh civil action will collapse without funds

A landmark civil action against the gang blamed for the Omagh bomb atrocity will collapse unless nearly £1m (€1.45m) is raised in the next six months, relatives warned today.

With the £10m (€14.47m) compensation claim expected to be heard at the Northern Ireland High Court this autumn, pressure was mounting today for extra cash to pay the costs.

A large slice of the funding secured so far by some of the families seeking to sue the men they accuse of the the August 1998 Real IRA atrocity has been swallowed by legal fees.

Victor Barker, whose son James, 12, was among 29 people killed, said he fully backed the families’ solicitors, London firm H2O.

But the Surrey-based lawyer admitted the attempt to secure compensation was now in serious danger.

With fees charged by H20 and barristers from Cherie Booth QC’s firm Matrix accounting for much of the cash raised so far, another £800,000 (€1.16m) is needed before the civil case is heard.

“If we don’t raise the rest of the money the case won’t go ahead because we won’t be able to fund it.

“The action would be disbanded and we would probably be asked for costs. It would be a disaster.”

A major benefit dinner has been planned for May 8 at Claridge’s hotel in London, backed by figures such as rock star Bob Geldof, former Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson and ex-boxer Barry McGuigan.

Mr Barker, whose family quit their home in Co Donegal after the bombing, also plans to run in this year’s London Marathon in an attempt to raise money.

Defending the lawyers’ charges, he added: “I am 100% behind the trustees, the legal team and the fund raising committee.

“You cannot expect people in this day and age to work for nothing unless it’s a huge legal practice that can afford to underwrite something like this.

“These are the charges you get from London lawyers, but I have placed my complete faith in the hands of the trustees to examine the costs and make sure they are fair.”

Five Real IRA suspects are being sued by the Omagh bomb relatives, including the dissident terror group’s alleged leader, Michael McKevitt.

Lawyers have also subpoenaed Sinn Fein leaders Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness and three other senior republicans to answer questions about IRA meetings – in the months before the 1998 attack – which led to McKevitt quitting allegedly to head the splinter organisation.

As work on the legal action continued, no one was available for comment from H2O.

But a statement issued on behalf of the families in Omagh claimed an attempt was being made to undermine the lawyers’ work.

It said: “We are very concerned with the behaviour of those who are attempting to discredit the legal team and trustees.

“This is bringing further pain and stress to the very people who have suffered to much.”