Omagh victory could help London victims

BELFAST - A landmark legal victory for relatives of victims of the Omagh bombing could open the way for those bereaved in London's July 7 attacks to sue the perpetrators for damages.

The legal breakthrough came when Omagh relatives won a lengthy civil case in Belfast, with a judge ruling that four prominent republicans were liable for the deaths of the 29 people killed in Omagh in 1998.

Justice Morgan awarded more than £1.6 million ($4.1 million) in damages to relatives of those killed. His verdict was hailed by Omagh relatives, some of whom have claimed they have been let down by the authorities and the courts.

Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden died in the bombing, declared: "We have sent out an important message to terrorists and their victims around the world. You now have a way of challenging those who've murdered your loved ones. I think it is a tremendous moral victory for the families. It is a result better than we could have imagined."

The judge, who is to become Northern Ireland's Lord Chief Justice, said of the families: "The senseless and indiscriminate nature of this appalling outrage has deeply affected each of them. For many, the effects are catastrophic and their lives will never be the same again."

The families said they would appeal against the judge's decision not to award exemplary damages in the case. The costly civil action, heard in Belfast over 14 months, was made possible by an £800,000 donation from the British Government and contributions from many other supporters.

The case against one of the five men named in the action, Seamus McKenna, was dismissed. But four others - Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly - were held to have been responsible for the attack. McKevitt, who was chief-of-staff of the Real IRA at the time, is serving a 20-year sentence for directing terrorism.

The lower standard of proof required in civil cases proved decisive in yesterday's case. The amount of damages awarded went up to £337,500 for a man who lost his wife.

London-based solicitor Jason McCue said: "We are going to appeal and this is the sort of case that could get the highest award ever in the UK."

He was sure those caught up in the July 2005 attacks in London would now seek damages from those who helped plan them. "July 7 want to do an action. They are definitely going to because they've seen the consequences."

Those named by the judge can be expected to argue that they do not have the resources to pay the amounts he ordered them to hand over. The question then arises of whether any assets they hold, such as property, could be seized as the families seek to enforce the judgment.

- INDEPENDENT