A landmark civil action brought by relatives of people killed in the Omagh bomb has been scheduled in the High Court for April next year, it emerged today.
The date was fixed in the High Court in Belfast on Friday. It is the first civil action of its kind to be brought by the relatives of victims of terrorist attacks in the UK against people they believe were involved.
The Omagh bomb in August 1998 was the largest single atrocity in Northern Ireland's history. The real IRA car bomb which devastated the centre of the Co Tyrone town killed 29 people.
The civil action will take place after the trial of 37-year-old Co Armagh man, Sean Gerard Hoey, is completed.
Mr Hoey's trial got under way at Belfast Crown Court last week and is expected to be completed by Christmas. He denies 58 terror charges, including 29 murder charges.
The £14 million civil action is being taken against five people - Michael McKevitt, Seamus Daly, Seamus McKenna, Liam Campbell and Colm Murphy. In August 2003, the then Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy pledged around £700,000 in Government funds to the relatives' civil action.
The Omagh civil action is being watched closely by the victims of other terrorist atrocities around the world and their legal representatives.
H20, the London-based law firm which represents the Omagh families, confirmed April 16th next year had been set as the date for the High Court case.
"The families wish to thank everyone for their support and perseverance in helping them achieve their long awaited day in court," a statement said.
PA