Dissident seeks document disclosure
A top dissident republican wanted in Lithuania over an alleged arms smuggling plot is to seek disclosure of police communication records.
Liam Campbell, one of the men held responsible for the Omagh bomb atrocity, wants the documents as part of his fight against attempts to have him extradited.
A hearing to decide whether he should be sent to face charges in the east European state is due to be held in Belfast later this year.
During a review of the case lawyers for Campbell confirmed they will be applying soon to have him released on bail.
Barrister Sean Devine also disclosed: “The other matter I have been asked to raise is in relation to disclosure.
“We would request disclosure of communication between the PSNI and the respective extradition units.”
He was told by Judge Tom Burgess, Recorder for Belfast, that it would be dealt with immediately once the relevant papers were received.
In June Campbell, from Upper Faughart, Dundalk, Co Louth, was held to be liable, along with three other men, for the Omagh bombing following a landmark civil action brought by relatives of some of the 29 people killed in the August 1998 blast.
A judge declared there was cogent evidence that the 46-year-old was a member of the Real IRA’s Army Council.
He is wanted in Lithuania over an alleged operation to acquire guns, ammunition and explosives from there and ship them into Ireland for the Real IRA.
Although proceedings were already underway in the Irish Republic, a fresh application was launched when he was arrested after crossing the border into south Armagh in May.
Following legal arguments over the location of the case, Judge Burgess ruled that the extradition hearing should be held in Northern Ireland because Lithuania wanted the case to be heard in the UK
