Ahern considers releasing Omagh bomb trial transcripts

The Government may consider releasing secret State papers for a multi-million civil action being pursued by families of the Omagh bomb victims, it emerged today.

The families lost a Special Criminal Court bid on Monday for access to trial transcripts in relation to the 1998 atrocity which killed 29 people because judges ruled they did not have jurisdiction to hear the application.

But An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Dáil today he would seek legal advice on transferring such documents to the National Archives before the traditional 30-year period.

He said: “I appreciate the importance of the papers (but) I’m not aware of what the legal complexities are.”

Mr Ahern said in a response to a question from Labour party leader Pat Rabbitte that he would consult the Attorney General and the justice minister on the issue.

The Omagh families are seeking aggravated damages and individual claims from five men they suspect of carrying out the bombing, the single largest atrocity during the Northern Ireland Troubles.

The £14m (€20.4m) civil action is expected to be heard at the High Court in Belfast later this year.

At present the action has reached the discovery stage and numerous applications are before the Dublin and Belfast courts.