Relatives of Omagh victims sue Real IRA

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Relatives of the Omagh bombing victims have taken the unprecedented step of launching legal action against the Real IRA and five men they claim have links to the terrorists who carried out the atrocity, it was revealed on Friday night.

In the first-ever case of someone suing a terrorist organisation, relatives of the 29 who died are claiming compensation. Civil writs have been issued at the Northern Ireland High Court in Belfast .

Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was among those killed in the car bombing three years ago, said: "Our families are not capable of fighting for themselves, but they deserve justice and it's our responsibility to make sure it's delivered."

The writs have been issued against the Real IRA and five named men. They are Seamus McKenna, of Silverbridge, Newry, Co Down, John Michael Henry McKevitt, of Blackrock, Dundalk, Co Louth, Liam Campbell, of Mount Pleasant, Dundalk, Co Louth, Michael Colm Murphy, of Ravensdale, Dundalk, Co Louth, and Seamus Daly, of Culloville, near Castleblaney, Co Monaghan.