Demands for Real IRA ruling to be overturned

The British Attorney General will urge the courts to overturn a judge’s ruling that the Real IRA is not an illegal organisation, it was confirmed today.

Lord Goldsmith insisted the decision on the terror group behind the Omagh bomb massacre needed to be appealed.

His decision came amid frantic British government attempts to overcome a landmark ruling which provoked outrage among victims relatives and left the authorities facing a massive political and legal headache.

Earlier this week at Belfast Crown Court Mr Justice Girvan cleared four men of being members of the dissident republican group on the grounds that its name did not appear on the list of proscribed organisations drawn up under legislation.

The British government has outlawed the IRA under the Terrorism Act, believing this to be an umbrella term that included the Provisionals along with Continuity and Real splinter factions.

Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy has pledged to change the law if necessary.

A report was sent to the Attorney General’s office as soon as the ruling was made on Wednesday.

Today there was confirmation of a challenge.

A spokeswoman said: “The Attorney General considers the point of importance and one which ought to be tested in the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland.

“He has therefore decided to ask the Court of Appeal to consider this ruling and has given instructions for a reference to be brought on a point of law under section 15 of the Criminal Appeal (Northern Ireland) Act 1980.”

No confirmation was available about whether Lord Goldsmith would personally take the case.

Mr Justice Girvan’s ruling had stunned relatives of the 29 people murdered in the August 1998 Real IRA attack on Omagh – the worst single atrocity in the history of Northern Ireland’s conflict.

Angry families demanded the legal loophole be closed at once, stressing how the authorities in the Republic of Ireland regularly convict terrorists for Real IRA membership.