Irish Times
11/05/2008 07:12

Relatives of the Omagh bomb victims will tomorrow take their landmark civil action against alleged terrorist chiefs to Dublin as they continue their long-running fight for justice.

The unprecedented lawsuit — the first time evidence from a Northern Ireland case will be heard in the Republic — will see more than 50 gardaí summonsed to the Four Courts to testify.

Twenty nine people died, including a woman pregnant with twins, and hundreds more were injured when the Real IRA bombed the Co Tyrone town on a busy Saturday afternoon in August 1998.

Over the next two weeks dozens of witnesses, including detectives, will be called as the families seek Stg£14 million (€17.6m) in damages from five men allegedly linked to the terror group.

Nobody has been convicted for the atrocity but named on the lawsuit are Michael McKevitt, the alleged leader of the Real IRA, the man said to be his number two, Liam Campbell, and Colm Murphy, Seamus McKenna and Seamus Daly.

All deny any involvement.

Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aidan died in the blast, said the move was important because it shows that the Court Service can work on both sides of the border in the interests of victims.

“It is a unique process because not only is it the first time that victims will have taken a case against alleged perpetrators but also the court will have sat in Belfast and then moved to Dublin so a lot of barriers have been broken,” he said.

“It’s seven years since we launched the case and there’s been a number of hurdles. It’s always been a challenge but we’re delighted to be in a position now where we are coming to Dublin.

“We would appeal to all of the witnesses, whether in Dublin or Belfast, to co-operate and share all the knowledge that they know about the events of Omagh with the courts.”

The landmark action, against the five believed to be responsible for the blast, is the first time the victims of terrorism are confronting the alleged perpetrators.

The only man to be charged with the Omagh murders is not among those accused by the families.

Sean Hoey, a South Armagh electrician, walked free from Belfast Crown Court last December after a judge acquitted him of all charges related to the bombing and a host of other Real IRA attacks.

BBC

Loyalist Michael Stone planned to slit the throats of Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness when he stormed the NI Assembly, a court has heard.


Michael Stone claimed his actions were 'performance art'

His trial began at Belfast Crown Court on Monday, where he faces 14 charges including attempted murder.

He has claimed his November 2006 action, which saw him detained by security staff, was "performance art".

However, prosecution told the court when arrested Stone told police he had planned to kill the Sinn Fein members.

Charles Adair QC said that after his arrest, Stone said: "My intention was to walk into the debating chamber and look for where Adams, McGuinness and Sinn Fein were sitting.

"I would have lobbed several nail bombs to cause confusion. I planned to stab Adams and McGuinness and cut their throats."

The lawyer said Stone admitted to counting on the fact that any personal protection weapons the Assembly members had would not have been carried in the debating chambers.

As well as the attempted murder charges, Stone is charged with possessing home-made explosives and an imitation gun with intent.

He is also charged with carrying a garrotte, three knives and an axe and assaulting staff members who trapped him in the revolving doors at Stormont.

Stone, 53, has been in custody since the Stormont incident when the government cancelled the early release he received under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement following his life sentence for a triple murder.

In 1988, he launched a gun and grenade attack on the republican funeral of three IRA members shot dead by the SAS in Gibraltar.

Three people died and several more were injured before Stone was arrested by police as he fled Milltown Cemetery in west Belfast.

By Lesley-Anne Henry
Belfast Telegraph
Monday, May 12, 2008

The ground-breaking Omagh bomb civil action is making history again when it moves to Dublin — the first time a Northern Irish case sits outside its jurisdiction.

The £14m civil action being taken against five suspected bombers has been transferred to the Republic's Four Courts in a move at the request of the plaintiffs, the families of six victims.

When Mr Justice Morgan sits in court today, it will mark the first time a British judge has gone to the Republic on judicial business.

The action itself has made history in that it is the first time in the UK, and probably anywhere, that citizens have taken alleged terrorists through the courts.

The judge will head a commission assisted by an Irish judge to take hearsay evidence from an FBI spy and from Garda officers protected by immunity.

A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Courts Service said: "We believe this is the first time that a judge is to take evidence on commission in another jurisdiction under the Rules of the Supreme Court (Northern Ireland) 1980."

Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy, Seamus Daly and Seamus McKenna deny any part in the 1998 explosion that killed 29 people and unborn twins.

The trial is to stay in Dublin for four days and scheduled to return on May 27 for three days. Some 2,300 emails and other documents passed between the US trucker-turned-spy, David Rupert who infiltrated the Real IRA, and his security handlers will be read.

Applications to hear evidence from 50 Garda officers were lodged at Belfast High Court but it is thought not all will be called.

In a special ruling on taking the non-jury trial to Dublin, Judge Morgan said: "Although the rule clearly provides that a judge may take evidence on commission in another jurisdiction it is unusual for such a course to be followed."