Several families of the Omagh bomb victims are considering taking civil action against individuals named in the BBC Panorama programme as suspects. However, another family denounced it as a "cheap programme" which offered no justice.
Mr Michael Gallagher, whose son Adrian was among the 29 victims of the "Real IRA" blast, said the families would be meeting soon to discuss the possibility of suing the alleged suspects.
"Looking at the assets of the people named in the programme last night probably makes it more feasible that we will take civil prosecutions. We feel these people have to be held responsible in some manner.
"In some cases, there could be better chances of success in a civil rather than a criminal case." Mr Gallagher also called for the alleged suspects to be tried for "war crimes" under international law.
"The murder of these innocent people was a war crime and against the Geneva Convention," he said. He called for suspects who had refused to answer questions about the use of mobile telephones on the day of the explosion to be charged with withholding information.
However, Mr Lawrence Rush, whose wife, Libby, was killed in the 1998 bombing, described the programme as a huge setback for the families and said that future defendants could be acquitted on the grounds that Panorama had prejudiced their trial.
"The proper place for justice is a courtroom, not a TV screen. I did not want to know the names of these people. I don't want a feeling of vengeance. I don't want a feeling of vigilantism," he said.
"I was prepared to wait 20 years. I was patient. And the last thread of hope was severed by that programme, that cheap programme. We had people talking through letter-boxes. My God, what kind of justice is this? We are playing with justice. We are playing with people's lives."
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission voiced its concern. "The explicit way in which the individuals, their jobs, homes and cars were identified gives the commission cause for serious concern," said a statement.
However, the Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, described the programme as "a very professional piece of work". He added: "I hope that, as a result of the programme, people will be able to come forward with the last piece of evidence we need that will clinch a conviction."
However, the North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, expressed his misgivings: "I have very grave doubts about the wisdom of the programme. I am not sure whether that programme was done out of a genuine desire to serve the public or for the sake of sensation. I am not sure the programme fits into any concept of public service broadcasting that I recognise."
The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, said he had not seen the programme but added: "I am against the naming of people involved for all sorts of reasons. Not least because those who were involved in the killings on Bloody Sunday are remaining anonymous in the courts.
"And those involved in the Dublin and Monaghan bomb attacks have had a shroud of secrecy over their involvement."
The Panorama reporter, John Ware, said he was pleased that the courts had allowed the programme to go ahead.
Any other decision would have amounted to a "gagger's charter". He said: "It would mean you can't publish evidence of criminal behaviour for fear of prejudicing any trials. It would mean that a programme identifying alleged corrupt police officers couldn't run as that would jeopardise a fair trial."