Relatives of victims of the Omagh bombing have begun legal action against five men with alleged links to the group that carried out the atrocity.
Civil writs seeking compensation were issued at the High Court in Belfast in the first stage of the process.
Mr Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was among 29 killed in the 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 men. They are: Mr Seamus McKenna, of Silverbridge, Newry, Co Down; Mr John Michael Henry McKevitt, of Blackrock, Dundalk, Co Louth; Mr Liam Campbell, of Mount Pleasant, Dundalk, Co Louth; Mr Michael Colm Murphy, of Ravensdale, Dundalk, Co Louth; and Mr Seamus Daly, of Culloville, near Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.
The families are attempting to raise £1 million to cover the costs of the action.
No one has been charged with the murders.
A source close to the families' legal team told PA News last night they were breaking new ground in taking the case.
"It's the first time in the world a writ has been served against a terrorist organisation and we will be using the lack of precedent as a challenge," he said.
Lord Brennan QC will head a team of barristers instructed by a London firm of solicitors.
The move came just days before the August 15th deadline for mounting a civil action against those allegedly associated with the dissident republican group that bombed Omagh on August 15th, 1998.
Mr Jason McCue, of H2O solicitors, refused to comment on the amount the families would be seeking. "We believe the proper place for this matter to be considered is through the judicial process," he said.
The fund set up to cover the legal costs received a boost yesterday when £50,000 was given by an anonymous donor.
Relatives of the victims will gather in Omagh today who lost his wife, Ann, in the bomb, was upbeat about raising the money. He said: "The people who are heading up the fund are very well-known people in London who move in the circles of very rich people. This fight will go all the way".