Omagh civil case moves to Dublin

The civil action being taken by some of the families who lost loved ones in the 1998 Omagh bombing has moved from Belfast to Dublin.

The families are suing five men, including the man said to be the leader of the Real IRA, Michael McKevitt.

He is serving a 20-year sentence in the Republic for directing terrorism.

Lawyers will take evidence from gardaí who investigated the bombing that killed 29 people, including a mother pregnant with twins.

Monday morning was taken up with legal arguments over demands by lawyers for the defendants to challenge statements made by gardaí in court.

Up to 50 gardaí are due to give evidence.

It is the first time a Northern Ireland judge has heard evidence in the Republic.

The civil action will continue for three days before returning to Belfast.

Atrocity

Almost 10 years after the worst atrocity of the troubles, no-one has been convicted of the murders, but the families hope their civil action will reveal the truth about what happened to their loved ones.

Nobody can be jailed in a civil case but the judge can reach a verdict on the basis of probability about what happened on that fateful day.

The case will return to Dublin at the end of the month when a further 21 Gardai are expected to give evidence.