The British government was tonight defeated in the House of Lords over its wide-reaching plans to give UK police powers to investigate personal data in the fight against terrorism.
However, an amendment was passed which strengthens police powers to deal with terrorist suspects.
Families of the victims of the Omagh bombing earlier urged Britain’s House of Lords to approve the bill. It will curtail foreign donations to the ‘Real IRA’.
The Omagh Victims Legal Trust said the ‘Real IRA’ were continuing to try to kill and bomb innocent people, following the 1998 killing of 29 people and injuring of hundreds more.
"An amendment to the Bill would turn off the tap of foreign donations," said the trust. "One source of money would be denied to them - although their affiliates would still be able to fundraise in the United Kingdom itself."
Passing the amendment would be "one small but important victory in the war on international terrorism", they said.
PA