Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams today said he would consult his lawyer if called to appear in court in the civil action brought by the families of thevictims of the Omagh bombing.
The Sinn Féin leader responded to the British government's decision to contributeStg £800,000 towards legal action against those behind the atrocity of August 1998in which 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, were killed.
Mr Adams said he did not know why anyone would want him to give evidence."Sometimes those who advised victims cast a very wide net and one wonders whyon earth they would want me in court," he added.
Mr Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was killed in the bomb, said hebelieved Mr Adams and the leadership of Sinn Féin would have first-handknowledge of the dissidents who split from the provisional movement to form theReal IRA.
"The reason why he was on the writ was because he would be in a position togive details of how and when the break-up came," he said.
"This was a man who in the past has called for justice for many causes and Ifind it difficult to understand why he would be selective when it came toOmagh."
Asked if he would want to see those responsible for the bombing brought tojustice Mr Adams said: "I have made it very clear that in terms of all of this,families have the right to truth and the right to closure.
"Some of the people behind the campaign have actually at times attacked SinnFéin which is most unfair. We from the first moment of news of the Omagh bombingcame out in opposition to what had happened."
PA