A harrowing new film of the Omagh bomb atrocity could lead to the killers being caught, victims' relatives said last night.
The families of many of the 29 murdered in the "Real IRA" massacre gathered in Belfast for a special screening of the film, entitled Omagh, and declared it a painful but necessary retelling of the outrage.
Mr Stanley McCombe, whose wife Ann died in the car bomb attack on the Co Tyrone town nearly six years ago, said: "It was a very powerful, brilliant film true to every fact."
Mr McCombe, who along with other relatives had worked closely with the British and Irish producers behind the project, admitted it had been hard to watch.
Based on first-hand research, and in consultation with the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, the drama chronicles the unresolved search for the perpetrators of the bombing and the persistent struggle of the families who are still demanding answers over the tragedy.
Jointly written by Guy Hibbert and Paul Greengrass, Omaghwas directed by Pete Travis and produced by Ed Guiney along with Greengrass.
The film was jointly produced by Hell's Kitchen International and Britain-based Tiger Aspect and was cofunded by RTÉ , the Irish Film Board and Channel 4.
It is due to be screened on RTÉ and Channel 4 later this month before going on general cinema release.
No one has ever been convicted of the bombing, although the families are taking a £10 million sterling civil action against the five men they suspect of plotting and carrying out the attack.
PA