Arms accused loses NI freedom bid

Campbell is to face extradition proceedings in Northern Ireland

A man held to be responsible for the Omagh bombing in a civil judgement has lost his High Court bid for freedom from a Northern Ireland jail.

Liam Campbell, 46, is in custody while Lithuanian authorities seek his extradition in connection with alleged arms offences.

His lawyers claimed his detention at Maghaberry jail was unlawful.

Campbell, from Upper Faughart, Dundalk, was arrested in south Armagh in May 2009.

His lawyers failed on Friday to quash the decision to hold extradition proceedings in Belfast rather than Dublin.

After hearing the case, judges dismissed both applications and said they would give their reasons at a later date.

Lord Justice Higgins told the court they had decided to announce their decision within days of the hearing because Campbell's potential liberty was at stake.

In June he was held to be responsible, along with three other men, for the Omagh bombing following a landmark civil action brought by relatives of some of the victims of the 1998 atrocity.

He was arrested in south Armagh in May after crossing the border to take his wife to work.