Second family looks set to join Omagh legal battle

A second family is launching a legal action against the British government and police over claims that the Omagh bomb atrocity…

A second family is launching a legal action against the British government and police over claims that the Omagh bomb atrocity could have been prevented, it was confirmed tonight.

Relatives of two victims who died have also accused the authorities of not doing enough to apprehend the killers.

Details of the new High Court proceedings were revealed as people in the Co Tyrone town prepared to mark the fourth anniversary of the attack which left 29 people dead.

"If our clients are wrong, let the British Government and police come to court and tell us how," said lawyer Desmond Doherty. "When we ask questions about the investigation all we get are platitudes and excuses."

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The action follows a move by other relatives to sue the five men they claim were behind the Real IRA bombing.

Writs have been served on Secretary of State John Reid and acting chief constable Colin Cramphorn on behalf of Laurence Rush, whose wife Elizabeth was killed in the August 15th, 1998, blast.

Mr Doherty said another family who lost a relative in the explosion has now joined Mr Rush. Their identity has not been disclosed.

But he confirmed: "They have asked this office to take the same course of action."

PA