SAOIRSE32

BBC
10 Jan 2008

A judge has said he is determined the Omagh bomb compensation case will go ahead in April despite complications.

One of the men being sued by the families, Colm Murphy, is involved in legal proceedings in the Republic over offences connected to the atrocity.

But Mr Justice Morgan said this should not interfere with the case.

It involves alleged Real IRA leaders, Michael McKevitt, Seamus Daly, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus McKenna, who all deny liability.

Lord Brennan, senior counsel for the families, taking the £14m civil action, said in the High Court in Belfast on Thursday that his team was currently seeking material from police on both sides of the border.

“The PSNI’s view is that they will co-operate to the extent they feel able to,” he added.

The compensation trial is expected to get underway on 7 April, and to last up to two months.

BBC
10 January 2008

A small number of police officers in Northern Ireland will begin training in the use of taser stun guns next week, the PSNI has said.

Twelve of the guns will be used by specialist response teams, but not by ordinary officers.

Members of the Policing Board have raised concerns that the scheme is going ahead without an equality impact assessment having been completed.

However, the PSNI said it could proceed without breaching human rights laws.

The move has been criticised by Amnesty International who said it was deeply disappointed by the decision.

“Tasers potentially pose a disproportionate risk to many of our most vulnerable citizens, the pregnant, those with mental health or drug problems and those with heart complaints,” a spokesperson said.

Tasers are already used by police forces in England, Scotland, Wales and the USA.