Solicitor on cash crusade to fund Omagh civil action

A solicitor who lost his 12-year-old son in the Omagh bombing has formed a trust with other relatives of the victims to finance the pursuit of a civil remedy to the terrorist attack.Victor Barker, a partner at Squire & Barker in Chertsey, Surrey, said he was frustrated by the lack of a public prosecution after the atrocity in Northern Ireland and intends to raise the 1 million in legal fees needed to bring a civil action against five people suspected by the police and others of carrying out the bombing.

Mr Barker said the civil action was the only chance of bringing anyone to justice and that although 'support has been very good, we are still only a quarter of the way towards our target'.

The trust has been holding charity events and golf days to raise the funds, and Mr Barker is calling on fellow lawyers to contribute.

London firm Henry Hepworth is acting for the trust.

Human rights and media partner Jason McCue said: 'This is a ground-breaking case as civil law has never been used to sue a terrorist for being a terrorist.' He said he was hopeful that the funds would be gathered and a claim issued by August this year.Mr Barker's son, James, was one of the 29 people who died in the bomb blast in August 1998.

l Donations to the fund can be made to Henry Hepworth, 5 John Street, London, WC1N 2HH - The Omagh Victims Legal Trust.

Andrew Towler