Omagh bomb families lodge £10m damages claim

Lawyers acting for the families of the Omagh bomb victims have lodged documents in the Dublin High Court today indicating that the sum of damages sought will top £10 million.

The civil action is expected to be heard in Belfast against Michael McKevitt, 51, Liam Campbell, 38, Colm Murphy, 51, Seamus McKenna, 49, and 33-year-old Seamus Daly.

Murphy is the only person convicted of involvement in the atrocity and is currently serving a 14-year sentence for conspiracy to commit explosions. McKevitt – who is believed to be the leader of the Real IRA – is in custody and expected to appear before a Dublin court next month in connection with charges relating to the directing of terrorism. Liam Campbell is currently serving a five-year sentence for membership of an illegal organisation. Both McKevitt and Campbell have confirmed that they will be contesting the case.

In August 2001, the victims' families issued writs at the High Court in Belfast against the five alleged Real IRA bombers and had 12 months in which to serve the writs against them. Solicitors for the families served the writs only days before the deadline ran out.

The Real IRA claimed responsibility for the bomb which killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, and injured hundreds on August 15 1998.

Whilst a civil court does not have the power to incarcerate individuals, the judgment is weighted on the "balance of probabilities", a lesser assessment of evidence than in criminal proceedings.

Should the alleged bombers be found culpable by the civil court, they face the prospect of having their assets confiscated and paying damages. Liam Campbell was issued with a tax bill for £527,000 by the Criminal Assets Bureau earlier this month.

(GMcG)