10/06/2009

Omagh Families Will Fight McKevitt Appeal

Relatives of those murdered in the Omagh bombing have said they will fight any appeal by the man found responsible of masterminding the 1998 attack.

Earlier this week the families won a landmark civil action against Real IRA chief Michael McKevitt and three other men.

A judge found all four men liable for the attack, which killed 29 people and unborn twins.

McKevitt - currently incarcerated for terrorist activity in Dublin - has since instructed his legal team to appeal the ruling.

His spokesman told the Belfast Telegraph: "The campaign to expose the truth behind the Omagh bomb conspiracy will continue. The legal team acting on behalf of Michael have been instructed to appeal the judgment."

Prominent Omagh campaigner Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aiden was killed in the bomb blast, said the move was a set-back for those hoping to end the 10 year fight for justice.

Mr Gallagher said he will do all he can to ensure the verdict is upheld.

"We thought Monday would finally end this process and people could start to move on, but that is not going to be.

"But I am not concerned about the appeal. What Michael McKevitt decides to do is between him and his legal team. If their appeal application successfully goes through and the original decision is upheld it will strengthen Monday’s judgment even more," he told the Belfast Telegraph.

"I think we will do everything we can to hold the verdict we got on Monday."

On Monday, Northern Ireland's incoming Lord Chief Justice, judge Declan Morgan, found McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Seamus Daly and Colm Murphy responsible for the Omagh atrocity.

The court awarded more than £1.6m in damages to 12 named relatives of those murdered by the Real IRA.

So far no criminal prosecution has succeeded in finding anyone guilty for the bombing, which ripped through the heart of Omagh town centre on a busy Saturday afternoon in August 1998.

(PR/JM)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

10 August 2017
Relatives Of Omagh Bombing Victims To Sue PSNI Chief
Relatives of the 1998 Omagh bombing victims are to sue the Chief Constable of the PSNI over failings in the police investigation. Next week marks the 19th anniversary since the Real IRA attack, which claimed the lives of 29 people.
08 October 2014
Police Cancel Appeal For Missing Omagh Man
Police have said they believe missing Omagh man, Shane Sharkey, has been found in the Republic of Ireland. A police appeal for help in finding the 35-year-old has been cancelled, with police saying they now believe they know where he is. No further details have been released but police thanked the public for their help.
10 January 2011
Omagh Bereaved Face Dissident Court Appeal
Four people will begin a court appeal today after they were successfully sued by families bereaved in the bloody Omagh bombing in 1998. The four dissident republicans, Michael McKevitt, Seamus Daly, Liam Campbell and Colm Murphy were found liable for the 1998 bombing but are to challenge the judgment.
07 August 2003
McKevitt receives 20-year sentence
The leader of the Real IRA, Michael McKevitt, has been sentenced to 20 years in jail at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today. Yesterday McKevitt was found guilty of directing terrorism and of being a member of an illegal organisation.
15 August 2018
Onus On Political Leaders To Build Truly Reconciled Society - SF
Twenty years on from the Omagh bomb atrocity, there is an onus on all political leaders to help build a truly reconciled society, Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Michelle O'Neill has said.