Two former Northern Ireland secretaries have backed a move to bring a civil action against those they believe carried out the Omagh bombing. Victor Barker, whose son James died in the Omagh bomb in August 1998, has confirmed that the Omagh Victims Legal Trust has secured the support of former Northern Ireland Secretaries, Peter Mandelson and Sir Patrick Mayhew, in their efforts.
Mr Mandelson has pledged £10,000 to the campaign that must raise a total of £1m before the third anniversary of the blast in August. A civil action cannot be brought against the individuals after a three-year deadline following the atrocity. Mr Barker said that the decision to bring about a civil action did not imply criticism of the investigating authorities, but the burden of proof was somewhat less in the civil compared to a criminal action.
