Police forces 'must support Omagh lawsuit'

Both the Gardaí and PSNI forces must lend their support to the Omagh victims’ £10m (€14.9m) civil action against the suspects if anyone is ever to be convicted for the atrocity, it was claimed today.

Michael Gallagher said relatives felt enormous relief now their landmark lawsuit had finally got off the ground, more than five years since the Real IRA bombing.

But he urged authorities both north and south of the border to co-operate fully with the families’ lawyers.

Mr Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aidan was one of 29 killed in the August 1998 massacre, also said the British and Irish governments could learn something from the way Spanish authorities dealt with the Madrid bombing.

“Three weeks ago the Spanish government made a statement saying that all the main participants in the Madrid bombing were either dead or behind bars,” he said.

“We have to remember the Spanish government knew nothing about those involved prior to the bombing.

“In context with Omagh, where books have been written about the suspects, it proves we have a lot to learn.”

He said the relatives had waited patiently for years to see those responsible convicted for murder.

The news that FBI spy David Rupert had agreed to testify against the five suspects had been welcomed with “absolute delight” he said.

Rupert, a US trucking company boss who infiltrated the Real IRA, was instrumental in the conviction of republican mastermind Michael McKevitt for directing terrorism last year.

His lawyers have made an application for his evidence to be given from America, via video-link, to protect his life.

Speaking at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis in Dublin, Mr Gallagher described how the bereaved and victims of the Omagh atrocity had come together, supported each other and, eventually, launched their own civil action.

He read to delegates a moving letter written by his daughter, describing the moment she found out her brother was dead and how terrorism had since affected her life.

The trial of the alleged terrorists responsible for the town-centre bombing has been provisionally fixed for January next year at Belfast High Court.