The former Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt has died following a battle with cancer.
McKevitt, who was one of four men found liable for the Omagh bomb, had been diagnosed with terminal cancer a number of years ago. He was released from prison in 2016 after serving a 20-year sentence for directing terrorism and membership of an illegal organisation.
The 71-year-old was married to Bernadette Sands McKevitt, a sister of IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands.
McKevitt, who came from Co Louth, always denied being involved in the 1998 Omagh bombing, but in 2009 a judge ruled in a landmark civil trial that McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly were all liable for the bomb.
Police officers and firefighters inspecting the damage caused by a bomb explosion in Market Street, Omagh, in 1998 (Paul McErlane/PA)
The 1998 attack was the single biggest atrocity of the Troubles, claiming 29 lives, including a woman pregnant with twins. All of the defendants denied having any involvement in the bombing.
He had claimed he was framed and wrongly blamed for the Omagh bomb.
However, in 2009 a judge in a civil case in Belfast High Court ruled that McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly were all liable for the bombing, and ordered them to hand over £1.6m in damages.
That decision was upheld on appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.
Former Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt dies
Former Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt (Niall Carson/PA)
Former Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt has died following a battle with cancer.
McKevitt, who was one of four men found liable for the Omagh bomb, had been diagnosed with terminal cancer a number of years ago.
He was released from prison in 2016 after serving a 20-year sentence for directing terrorism and membership of an illegal organisation.
The 71-year-old was married to Bernadette Sands McKevitt, a sister of IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands.
From Co Louth, McKevitt always denied being involved in the 1998 Omagh bombing, but in 2009 a judge ruled in a landmark civil trial that McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly were all liable for the bomb.
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