Families of Omagh bomb victims receive cash support

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Paul Murphy has confirmed that the government will provide £800,000 to the families of the Omagh bomb victims in their fight to bring those responsible to justice.

To date only one person, Colm Murphy, has been convicted in connection to the Real IRA blast which killed 29 people in August 1998.

The Secretary of State said: "I have been working for many months with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Constitutional Affairs to try to find ways of helping the Omagh families with the funding of their legal case.

"While I recognise the legal constraints and complexities, I have always believed that this is an exceptional case and the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland and beyond want to see the families bring it to court.

"The magnificent scale of the financial donations from the public to date supports that view."

Representatives of the victims families have welcomed the announcement as a breakthrough that will speed the process of justice for the grieving families in Omagh.

So far they have raised around £1 million mostly by public subscriptions.

A PSNI investigation into the bombing is continuing.

Today's announcement follows yesterday's sentencing of alleged Real IRA leader, Michael McKevitt, who was jailed for 20 for directing terrorism in the Irish Republic.

Mr McKevitt is one of the men who have been served writs by solicitors acting on behalf of the Omagh Victims' Civil Action Group who are seeking £10 million in damages.

(MB)