Omagh bomb father wants group banned

The father of a boy killed in the Omagh bomb has called for the 32-County Sovereignty Movement to be banned

The father of a boy killed in the Omagh bomb has called for the 32-County Sovereignty Movement to be banned. Mr Victor Barker, who lost his 12year-old son James in the bombing, said the organisation was inextricably linked to the "Real IRA" and should be outlawed in the US, the UK and the Republic.

Following a meeting with the Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, Mr Barker said such a move would make it illegal for the organisation to raise funds.

"The Irish Government seems to have taken the position that a ban would be counter-productive because it would make martyrs of these people amongst their supporters. Mr Mandelson has to look carefully at this but I still feel that, on balance, he will support our view," he added.