British ministers to meet Omagh relatives over case

British government ministers will meet relatives of the Omah bomb victims tomorrow to discuss the forthcoming civil action against…

British government ministers will meet relatives of the Omah bomb victims tomorrow to discuss the forthcoming civil action against five people suspected of being behind the atrocity.

Lord Filkin, permanent under secretary at the Department of Constitutional Affairs, and Northern Ireland Security Minister Jane Kennedy will visit the town's memorial garden before having a private meeting with the families.

The visit follows confirmation last week that the Government has agreed to provide the £800,000 sterling needed to bring the five men suspected of being behind the bomb - which killed 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins - to court.

The cash injection will help the families pursue their claim for £10 million against the group, which includes former 'Real IRA' leader Michael McKevitt, jailed for 20 years last week for directing terrorism.

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After months of consultation with the Department for Constitutional Affairs, Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy last week confirmed the British government had found a way to help the relatives pay the £1.5 million legal costs.

Last summer solicitors acting on behalf of the Omagh Victims' Civil Action Group served writs on five people suspected of involvement in the bombing.

The legal documents were given to Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, and Colm Murphy in Portlaoise Jail. Solicitor Jason McCue visited the border town of Dundalk in the Irish Republic last July to serve writs on two other people, Mr Seamus Daly and Mr Seamus McKenna.