The father of a 21-year-old victim of the Omagh bomb today paid tribute to members of the public who contributed to a fund which could pave the way for a landmark legal action against those allegedly behind the atrocity.
Mr Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was killed by a Real IRA car bomb which devastated Omagh in 1998, welcomed confirmation that writs could soon be served on five people suspected of having planned and carried out the attack.
The action has been taken by some of the relatives of the 29 people and two unborn twins killed in the atrocity.
Mr Gallagher said in the absence of any prosecutions of the bombers, families were relieved that they were now able to reach a point where some legal action could be taken.
"It has been a long, hard campaign over the last 18 months and this at least gives us some hope," he said.
He said a lot of people had swung behind the campaign, including like Mr Peter Mandelson, Sir Bob Geldof, Mr Barry McGuigan and Mr Eddie Irvine. "But the vast majority of the money raised has come from ordinary people across Britain and Ireland," he said.
Mr Gallagher said if the civil action were to succeed, it would be "a powerful tool" for many victims of terrorist violence - not just in the North but around the world.
He confirmed there had been interest in the civil action from lawyers in Israel, Spain and the United States.
The Omagh Victims Legal Trust is still appealing for funds to help meet the full legal costs.
After writs are served on those accused of the bombing, a court hearing in Belfast will follow which will enable lawyers acting for the families to produce evidence which they believe connects the suspects to the atrocity.
PA