IRA Members Lose Terror Attack Case

Four Dissidents Found Liable In Civil Case For 1998 Omagh Bombing Killing 29 People

(AP)  Four IRA dissidents were found liable Monday for Northern Ireland's worst terrorist attack in a civil case brought by the victims' families.

Belfast High Court Justice Declan Morgan found Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt liable for the 1998 bombing in the market town of Omagh in which 29 people died.

Also found liable were Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly. A fifth man, Seamus McKenna, was cleared of involvement.

Morgan awarded more than 1.6 million pounds ($2.5 million) in damages to 12 named relatives who filed the suit.

No one has been convicted for the bombing in a criminal case. Civil cases have a lower burden of proof.

Stanley McCombe, whose wife died in the bombing, said he was pleased with the verdict.

"It is a result we hoped for but didn't expect. We didn't build our hopes up because we've been let down so many times before," he said.

Dissidents bombed several Northern Ireland towns in 1998 in hopes of undermining public support for the Good Friday peace accord achieved that year.

[gw185]

?And yes, the American Indian deserves recompense? I agree, but in this case there is and never was a world regarded terrorist organisation murdering innocient people, and tring to bring down a political system that is supported by the majority Indians and others. In Ireland some groups (both communities) have got justice for ills against their families are still currently seeking. However one problem regarding recompense, exposed by the latest cross community study on how to deal with the aftermath of the troubles regarding compensation. It was proposed that families of all those killed should get equal compensation. Problem. This means killed terrorists both sides, would get the same compensation as innocient victims. This problem highlighted by one of similar occasions when an IRA man killed innocient people and accidently himself using a bomb. (this occasions he had a target but misidentified). So should both families of victims and murders get compensation. Thankfully this idea of compensation has been recently quashed.

?If you've done your "research," there should be no question? posted by Illuminos_9........... I do not know you, so have no knowledge if your connections are or not fully Irish in descent. That is for you to research.

[gw185]

?Wait a while and we may see the same type of conflict here. Some humans (usually the skilled and/or educated) just aren't willing to become subjects of the demands of other humans? posted by Illuminos_9. Where is here? This is an international forum.

In democratically elected nations the government pushes forward its parties principles, be it the republic, America, Canada, UK or Australia, until that party ceases to become the majority and elected out. Those not in government can democratically object to the governing parties ideals and can prevent those coming into Law (democratically). In the case of Northern Ireland this is different. There is no governing party but a government made up of both communities, with a unionist first and democratic republican second minister, quite a unique system, but problematic with pushing forward law, as both sides have to largely agree, which can lead to stalemate and inefficient governing.

[gw185]

?Ireland is a REPUBLIC, not a democracy. Screw the majority when their wishes contradict standing individual rights? posted by Illuminos_9. The republic of Ireland is very much a democratic nation. It has elected members of parliament. (politicians voted into parliament by a fair and just national election). Screw the majority? What? Every nation in the world has minorities, and get a voice by democratic elected means, not by murdering (at least in many developed nations). Thats not how a civilised nation works. The minority of minority groups can not hold a nation to ransom by murdering and attacking a political system supported by the majority. That is terrorism.

[gw185]

The majority of the people in Northern Ireland (unionists) wish to remain part of the UK. Many are descendants of people that have been in the north of Ireland before many countries such as America and Australia ever existed. By using violence the Irish terrorists, will NEVER change the native Unionists opinion, only harden the majority of those against a united Ireland. Peaceful alteration of opinion is the only way to achieve a United Ireland, but in reality many people both protestant and catholic may wish to remain part of the United Kingdom for personal reasons, economic, job security, the thought of belonging to a stable strong country that actually means something in the world and hasn?t needed to rely on handouts from Europe. Don?t be fooled into thinking that if a united Ireland was ever achieved, these murders could fit into that society. Once a murderer always a murder. Many loyalist and ex Ira men, have also turned to other illegal actives such as drug dealing, unable to fit back into a civilised society.

In regards to your hypothetical situation, it works both ways. Do you really believe that protestants would have ever stood by and be murdered in the 1000s. Violence creates violence and only stops when brave men and women take a stand and oppose bloodshed and support peace. Thankfully today the situation is much different and now the Island has a very low murder rate. But The Irish republican terrorists have recently attacked catholic policemen killing one and killed soldiers not even on duty in Northern Ireland, but those who chose to fight other terrorists. The British Army has even now seen an increase in recruits from the Irish Republic. Seems the present Irish Republican terrorists are a bit out of touch with the majority of catholics in the North voting for Sinn Finn and democracy.
Brits to stay

[gw185]

Terrorist or Soldier? Terrorist. Hiding within a community, often intimidating those who oppose them within that community, using indiscriminate bombing attacks with no military purpose but instead killing on mass innocent bystanders (women, children and unborn babies), opposing the democratic will of the people, wearing non distinguishing uniform to blend in with the law abiding people of the country, being labelled by the international community as a terrorist organisation. All hallmarks of the modern terrorist. Now today they have less support than ever, people choosing to give up the gun and go into politics. Where?s the support for continued bloodshed?

What should happen to present day America. Many IRISH and other nationalities murdered and oppressed, the native Indians. Should American be given back to the Indians, Australia back to the aborigines, South American back to the remaining indigenous descendents? Ireland has had many mass influxes of people, from Viking times to before and obviously since (both protestant and catholic immigrates). Many violent invasions, of which your descendents may have, come in on (yes, research may surprise you, a name is not always what it seems, If indeed you are irish).

[gw185]

The omagh bombing was mass murder of the innocents. So the irish republican terrorists (murdering, cowardly, low lives ) in your words can murder, torture, maim, blind and mutilate using techniques such as indiscriminate bombs, killing innocent catholics and protestants who have been born a bred in the North of Ireland for hundreds of years, and both of whom have suffered over this period because of people who have no respect for life. Do you really think that this sort of action could ever bring about a united Ireland? The only way a united Ireland can be achieved is by democratic voting something these terrorist seem never to have heard off. The majority of the population of Northern Ireland (unionists) want to remain part of the United Kingdom and violence will never change this.

[gw185]

the victims were precisely where the rira wanted them. They misinformed the police of the location of the bomb, resulting in the civilians relocating to were the real bomb was placed. Interesting that more Catholics than Protestants were killed. Just goes to show that the rira don?t care who they kill, even people from the community they claim to represent, they are just a bunch of murderous terrorists.

[scyouth]

Posted by Illuminos_9

That would be dumbus ******* Illiminus.

[gw185]

Murderous cowards, killing the innocent. This is typical of Irish republican terrorist groups. At least now the families of the victims can have some justice.

[scyouth]

Posted by Illuminos_9

I agree with you totally. Give Ireland back to the Irish and let the buggers fight it out on their own. I was against the British Army going in 1968 to stop the B-Specials beating the $h1t out of the Catholics to begin with. Oh and thanks much to the "Patriots" in Boston and New YORK for supplying a terrorist organization with money for arms they bought from Libya for years. You yanks weren't so hot on the "war on terror" then were you?