Families of victims killed in the Omagh bomb have succeeded in raising sufficient funds to launch a civil legal action against those they hold responsible for the atrocity.
Relatives of the 29 people killed in the "Real IRA" attack four years ago in the Co Tyrone town learned yesterday that the Omagh Victims Legal Trust had raised the more than £1 million necessary to lodge their legal action.
A number of personalities from politics, entertainment and sport such as the former Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, Sir Bob Geldof, Eddie Irvine and Barry McGuigan contributed to the fund.
Mr Mandelson yesterday described the announcement as "good news for the peace process".
Mr Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Adrian died in the atrocity, thanked both celebrities and members of the public for their contributions which will now enable the relatives to serve writs on the five people suspected of planning and executing the attack.
So far only one man in the Republic has been convicted of charges connected with the bombing.
Mr Gallagher said in the absence of any further prosecutions, the families were at last seeing a glimmer of hope. If the legal action proved to be successful, it would be a "powerful tool" for other victims of paramilitary violence across the world, he added.
Last August, the relatives' solicitors issued writs at the High Court in Belfast against the suspects and the "Real IRA" claiming compensation from them. The families then had 12 months in which actually to serve the writs on the five men. Those named can ignore the civil action but the families can proceed with their case in open court. If they are successful, the suspects could then face losing their personal assets.