Omagh judge calls for openness

Twenty-nine people were killed in the Omagh bombing

The judge overseeing the Omagh bombing civil action has asked for hearings not to become "cloaked in secrecy".

Mr Justice Morgan urged both sides in the landmark case to ensure proceedings remain as open as possible.

His call came as lawyers for the victims' families revealed plans to take evidence from more Irish police officers.

Twenty-three Garda witnesses have already been lined up for when the trial moves to Dublin next month.

But Brett Lockhart QC, acting for the families, told the High Court in Belfast that an application would be made to hear from more officers.

It is understood another six gardai and further civilian witnesses have been identified.

Day four of the case against convicted Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt, Seamus McKenna, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly centred on the experts due to give evidence about mobile phones allegedly used by the bomb team before and after the explosives were driven into the County Tyrone town on 15 August 1998.

This is a public trial and we have to be careful not to turn it into a private trial Mr Justice Morgan

After discussions on what testimonies and statements can be heard in court or simply read by the judge in the non-jury action, Mr Justice Morgan stressed that as much as possible should be delivered openly.

"This is a public trial and we have to be careful not to turn it into a private trial," he said.

At one stage, Brian Fee QC, who is acting on behalf of Seamus McKenna, told the court it may be weeks before the expert brought in by his client and Seamus Daly and Colm Murphy could be fully prepared for all the telephone evidence in the case.

But Lord Brennan QC, who is heading the victims' legal team, vowed to "vigorously resist" taking so long to prepare a report.

His warning received a reply that the expert originally brought in by the defendants had suffered a heart attack.

Later, further statements were read from some of those who saw the maroon Vauxhall Cavalier packed with a 500lb bomb as it was driven in by two men and parked on Market Street in the centre of Omagh.