11/02/2003
Sinn Fein leadership subpoenaed over Omagh bomb case
Three leading members of Sinn Fein are set to appear in court as part of a civil case being brought by the families of the Omagh bomb victims.
The subpoenas for MP's, Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness and Pat Doherty are part of a civil action issued against five republicans – Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy, Seamus McKenna, and Seamus Daly – who are all accused of being involved in the Real IRA bombing which killed 29 people in 1998.
Two other alleged IRA leaders, Brian Gillen and Brian Keenan have also been issued with subpoenas.
While, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has always denied being a member of the Provisional IRA, the Omagh victims' lawyers claim he was present at five key meetings of the group’s ruling army council during 1996 and 1997 alongside McGuinness, Doherty, Gillen and Keenan.
These meetings are believed to have led to the resignation of McKevitt from the Provisional IRA following disagreements over the Northern Ireland peace process. This in turn led to the formation of the Real IRA of which McKevitt is the alleged commander.
A spokesman for the Omagh Victims Legal Fund said: "No-one is saying these men were responsible for Omagh, but they were present at five key meetings which led to McKevitt resigning and forming the Real IRA. They are material witnesses who can give evidence about McKevitt’s role in that."
So far, only two of the accused, McKevitt and Campbell, have said they will contest the case being brought against them.
Colm Murphy is the only person to be convicted in connection with the attack. He was sentenced last year to 14 years in prison for conspiracy.
(MB)
The subpoenas for MP's, Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness and Pat Doherty are part of a civil action issued against five republicans – Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy, Seamus McKenna, and Seamus Daly – who are all accused of being involved in the Real IRA bombing which killed 29 people in 1998.
Two other alleged IRA leaders, Brian Gillen and Brian Keenan have also been issued with subpoenas.
While, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has always denied being a member of the Provisional IRA, the Omagh victims' lawyers claim he was present at five key meetings of the group’s ruling army council during 1996 and 1997 alongside McGuinness, Doherty, Gillen and Keenan.
These meetings are believed to have led to the resignation of McKevitt from the Provisional IRA following disagreements over the Northern Ireland peace process. This in turn led to the formation of the Real IRA of which McKevitt is the alleged commander.
A spokesman for the Omagh Victims Legal Fund said: "No-one is saying these men were responsible for Omagh, but they were present at five key meetings which led to McKevitt resigning and forming the Real IRA. They are material witnesses who can give evidence about McKevitt’s role in that."
So far, only two of the accused, McKevitt and Campbell, have said they will contest the case being brought against them.
Colm Murphy is the only person to be convicted in connection with the attack. He was sentenced last year to 14 years in prison for conspiracy.
(MB)
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