THE husband of a woman killed in the 1998 Omagh bomb has described nationalist councillors' support for a letter opposing the extradition of a man found civilly liable for the attack as "shameful".
Sinn Féin, SDLP and some independent representatives on Fermanagh and Omagh backed a proposal by independent Bernice Swift to write to Michéal Martin voicing concerns about Campbell's extradition to Lithuania, where he is accused of a plot to supply arms and explosives.
The SDLP group leader on the council, Mary Garrity, yesterday apologised for supporting the motion as her party leader Colum Eastwood said it was wrong of party colleagues to back it.
Sinn Féin had not responded to queries from The Irish News about its councillors' actions at the policy and resources committee meeting at the time of going to press.
Campbell (58), who was found civilly liable for the Omagh bombing along with three other men in 2009, was arrested in Upper Faughart, Dundalk, Co Louth in December 2016 on foot of a European Arrest Warrant issued by Lithuanian authorities.
He is alleged to have organised the smuggling of weapons for the Real IRA between the end of 2006 and the beginning of 2007.
A majority of councillors voted to record their opposition to the extradition in a letter to the taoiseach on the grounds that Campbell's human rights would be breached by poor prison conditions in the Baltic state.
Dublin's High Court ordered his extradition last month following a length legal battle, with a judge concluding there was no evidence that he would be subjected to inhuman and degrading prison conditions.
The council vote was strongly criticised by unionists, with Ulster Unionist council chairman Chris Smyth saying it made him "feel physically sick".
"This nauseating proposal referred to the human rights of Liam Campbell but paid no regard to the rights of the 29 people and two unborn children who were murdered on the streets of Omagh in 1998," he said.
"I thought the rights of our citizens would have been the primary concern of the council which covers the Omagh area."
A statement from the DUP councillors group said: "We are truly sickened, angry and upset that tonight’s deplorable proposal was passed by Sinn Féin, SDLP and some independent councillors."
Kevin Skelton, whose wife Philomena died in the 1998 blast, said the council's move was a "slap in the face" for the families of those killed and injured in the Real IRA atrocity.
"This letter is an absolute disgrace and I would like to think the taoiseach would put this letter straight in the bin where it belongs," he said.
"Very little surprises me any more but this is a shockingly bad decision."
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden died in the Omagh bombing, described councillors' support for the letter as "shameful".
"Of all the councillors that should be distancing themselves from support for Liam Campbell it is those representing the people of Omagh," he said.
"The Omagh families can't understand this and feel badly let down by this shameful behaviour."
Mr Eastwood said the decision by SDLP councillors to back the motion had caused immense hurt and they will reverse their position when the motion comes before the full council.
"The party will also offer to meet with the Omagh families to express our profound regret," he tweeted.
Ms Garrity said she acknowledged the "pain and hurt" the decision had caused.
"The SDLP has opposed violence and the perpetrators of violence for 50 years, it was never our intention to cause additional hurt to victims and as a council group, we regret that," she said.
