The High Court has reserved judgment on a bid by the families of some victims of the 1998 Omagh bombing to get documents from five men for use in proceedings for damages against them in a Northern Ireland court.
The families are seeking the books of evidence and the transcripts of criminal trials involving each of the five men. They say those documents are relevant to an action which is to take place before the High Court in Belfast next month.
At the High Court in Dublin today, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan reserved judgment on the application.
The five men against whom discovery is sought include Michael McKevitt, Beech Park, Blackrock, Co Louth, who is serving a 20 year sentence for directing terrorist activities for the Real IRA. The Supreme Court has reserved judgment on his appeal against his conviction.
They also include Seamus Daly, from Culloville, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, who was sentenced to three years after being found guilty of membership of an illegal organisation and Liam Campbell, from Upper Faughart, Dundalk, who was jailed for membership of an illegal organisation.
The fourth man is Seamus McKenna, formerly of Silverbridge, Co Armagh, but with an address at Marian Park, Dundalk, who was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for unlawful possession of explosives.
The fifth man is Co Armagh businessman Colm Murphy from Jordan's Corner, Ravensdale, Co Louth, who is facing a re-trial on a conspiracy charge.
All five men have opposed the discovery application.
The court has heard the Director of Public Prosecutions had "no difficulty" in disclosing the materials sought.