Sinn Féin leader Mr Gerry Adams said today he had no evidence to offer after being subpoenaed in a civil case brought by relatives of some of the Omagh bomb victims against the men they blame for the attack.
In an unprecedented move in the British legal system, relatives of some of the 29 people killed in the 1998 bombing are seeking £10 million compensation from five men they believe masterminded the blast.
"I have no evidence on any of that, I just don't see what purpose is being served, indeed I wonder what agenda is being fulfilled," said Mr Adams, when asked about the subpoena.
Mr Adams, fellow Sinn Féin politicians Mr Martin McGuinness and Mr Pat Doherty, and prominent republicans Mr Brian Gillen and Mr Brian Keenan are all being served with papers requesting they appear as witnesses, a source close to the families' legal team said.
All five allegedly are or have been members of the outlawed IRA's ruling army council. They all deny the allegation.
"Lawyers for the families believe they were present at a number of meetings in the lead-up to the formation of the Real IRA," said the source. "They are convinced they have evidence which could be invaluable to the families' case".
Speaking at a Sinn Féin news conference in Belfast, Mr Adams said he was surprised to hear he was receiving a subpoena and would be taking legal advice.
"The Omagh bomb was a grievous blow to the families who lost loved ones," he added. "It was also a setback for the broad republican struggle, although it was carried out by a small, unrepresentative micro-group".
The families' action against Mr Seamus Daly, Mr Seamus McKenna, Mr Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell and Colm Murphy is expected to begin in Belfast High Court later this year.
Mr McKevitt is currently awaiting trial on charges of directing terrorism and "Real IRA" membership.
Campbell is serving five years in the republic's Portlaoise jail for "Real IRA" membership and Murphy - the only person so far charged or convicted in connection with Omagh - is serving 14 years for conspiring to cause the explosion.