Adams called to Omagh hearing

The Omagh bomb left 29 people dead

Subpoenas have been issued for five republicans, including Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, to appear in court as part of a civil case brought by the families of the Omagh bomb victims.

The relatives are taking a civil action against a number of men they accuse of involvement in the Real IRA attack, which killed 29 people including a woman seven months pregnant with twins.

Sinn Fein MPs Martin McGuinness and Pat Doherty have also been subpoenaed to appear at the High Court in Belfast along with leading Belfast republicans Brian Gillen and Brian Keenan.

It is not yet clear what questions the families will want the Sinn Fein members to answer but they have previously called on the party to turn over whatever information it had on the bombing to the Irish police.

Adams to ponder court appearance

Lawyers representing the families have lodged a legal document which confirms they want £10m in damages awarded against Michael McKevitt, 51; Liam Campbell, 38; Colm Murphy, 51; Seamus McKenna, 49, and 33-year-old Seamus Daly.

So far, only two of the accused, McKevitt and Campbell, have said they will contest the case being brought against them.

Both men are being held in Portlaoise Prison in the Irish Republic on terrorist charges unconnected with Omagh.

They accepted the writs when a lawyer went to their cells, but Murphy, who is also being held there, refused.

Last year, Murphy received a 14-year jail sentence for plotting to cause an explosion at the time of the Omagh bomb.

Statement of claim

He is the only person convicted in connection with the attack.

Twenty-nine men, women and children died and hundreds were injured when the Real IRA detonated a car bomb in the County Tyrone town on 15 August 1998 - a Saturday when the centre was full of shoppers.

Jason McCue: Served writs

Lawyers for the relatives said the three-inch thick "statement of claim" detailed the agony they had endured.

Last month, the families' lawyer, Jason McCue, said the compensation action was the relatives' final hope for justice.

"This marks yet another historic step in the families' four-year campaign to bring the atrocity before the court," he said.

"This civil action remains their best and last chance for justice.

"They have pursued this claim through enormous grief, with self-sacrifice and determination and, at times, in the face of indifference."

The civil action is expected to be heard at the High Court in Belfast later this year.