Northern Ireland

Omagh bomb case: father's anger over reported collapse of Seamus Daly prosecution

Michael Gallagher's son Aiden was killed in the 1998 bomb
Michael Gallagher's son Aiden was killed in the 1998 bomb Michael Gallagher's son Aiden was killed in the 1998 bomb

A FATHER whose son was killed in the Omagh bomb attack has expressed outrage that families have been kept in the dark amid reports of an imminent collapse of the prosecution of a man accused of the murders.

The case against Coy Armagh bricklayer Seamus Daly will be mentioned at a court in Ballymena later this morning.

Court proceedings are currently subject to reporting restrictions.

Daly (45), from Jonesborough, is accused of murdering the 29 people killed in the 1998 Real IRA outrage and a series of other offences. One of the victims was pregnant with twins.

Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was killed, said he was unhappy that information was circulating about the collapse of the case, yet he and other families had not been informed by the authorities.

"We have been failed once again by the police service, by the prosecution service, by the government and by the criminal justice system," he said.

Seven years ago, Daly was one of four men successfully sued for bombing the market town when he was found liable for the attack in a landmark civil case taken out by some of the bereaved families.

No-one has ever been convicted of the murders in a criminal court.

Daly has always denied involvement in the bombing.