SDLP’s Colum Eastwood apologises to victims after after party opposes extradition of man found liable for Real IRA’s Omagh Bomb

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has apologised to the Omagh bomb families after his councillors in Fermanagh and Omagh District Council voted against extraditing a man found liable for the atrocity to face weapons charges in Lithuania.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood with Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon.   Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEyeSDLP leader Colum Eastwood with Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon.   Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood with Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye

Dublin High Court has ordered the extradition of Dundalk man Liam Campbell over allegations he was part of an operation to buy guns and bombs for the RIRA. He has been found liable by a civil court for the RIRA’s 1998 Omagh bomb, which killed 29 people and two unborn children.

Support for the council motion against the extradition by SDLP councillors caused widespread anger among unionists and terror victims this morning. Campbell was found by a civil court to have planned the 1998 Omagh bombing.

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Just after lunch time SDLP leader Colum Eastwood tweeted his disapproval of his councillors’ voting, apologising directly to the victims of the Omagh bombing.

“The decision taken by Fermanagh/Omagh Councillors last night was wrong, it caused immense hurt and SDLP councillors will reverse their position when it comes before the full council,” he said.

“The party will also offer to meet with the Omagh families to express our profound regret.”

Shortly before his tweet, the leader of the SDLP on the council, Mary Garrity, issued a similar statement.

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Victims’ campaigner Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was killed in the Omagh bomb, said the vote was “truly bizarre”.

“It is extremely disappointing,” he said, “that councillors representing Omagh would pass a motion not to return Liam Campbell to Lithuania to face justice, given that this town experienced the worst single atrocity in the history of the Troubles.” He said that Lithuania is a western democracy which adheres to European human rights standards.

Mr Eastwood later tweeted that the vote was “wrong, it caused immense hurt and SDLP councillors will reverse their position when it comes before the full council”. The SDLP will offer to meet the Omagh families “to express our profound regret” he added. The council’s SDLP leader, Mary Garrity, issued a similar statement.

DUP councillors said in a statement they were “truly sickened, angry and upset” by the vote while UUP councillor Smyth, said it was “nauseating”.

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Kenny Donaldson of victims’ group SEFF described the outcome as “absolutely scandalous”.

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