ONE OF the men recently found liable for the Omagh bombing in a civil action, faces oppression and harassment if extradition proceedings against him are held in Northern Ireland, his lawyers claimed at a Belfast court yesterday.
Lawyers for Liam Campbell (46), who is wanted in Lithuania over an alleged arms smuggling plot, also suggested authorities could want the hearing moved from the Republic to somewhere they believed he may be viewed “less favourably”.
The claim was made at a hearing to decide whether the extradition case should continue in Dublin or Belfast.
Campbell, of Upper Faughart, Dundalk, Co Louth, was one of four men held to be responsible for the Omagh bomb atrocity in the civil action brought by relatives of the 29 people killed in the 1998 explosion.
He is being sought in Lithuania over a suspected operation to acquire and ship guns, ammunition, explosives, projectors, detonators and timers from the eastern European state to Ireland.
He was arrested in south Armagh last month after crossing the Border into the village of Bessbrook. At Belfast Recorder’s Court yesterday his lawyers argued that extradition proceedings already under way in the Republic should be allowed to continue.
Edward Fitzgerald QC said it was ironic that because his client was being held in remand and unable to attend the hearing in Dublin, his bail had been revoked and a warrant for his arrest issued.
Reserving judgment, Judge Tom Burgess said he was conscious that Campbell was in custody awaiting the outcome.