McDowell welcomes conviction and calls for dissidents to turn away from violence

Reaction: The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has appealed to dissident republicans to turn their backs on the "futility" of violence following yesterday's sentencing of "Real IRA" leader Michael McKevitt.

Describing the conviction and sentencing as "a successful outcome to a very lengthy and complex criminal investigation", Mr McDowell said: "The full force of our laws and of the agencies of criminal law enforcement will continue to be deployed against, and will bear down relentlessly on, all those who attempt to bring Ireland back down the wretched road of violence, hatred, poverty, suffering and injustice, the road that led, and would inevitably lead back, to Omagh.

"Nobody should doubt or underestimate the will and determination of the Government and people to continue to confront and defeat any attempt by any group or groups to return Ireland to such a nightmare.

"Those who are involved in any way should now turn their backs on such futility and turn instead to the generous vision, values and opportunities of democratic, constitutional republicanism."

Mr Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan (21), was killed at Omagh, was relieved at the length of the sentence but said the families of the victims still wanted to see people prosecuted for the bomb attack.

"It will never reflect the amount of suffering and pain this individual has put other families through, but I think there is a certain amount of relief that at long last he has been brought before the courts and properly dealt with," said Mr Gallagher.

"We have had a small victory . . . but we are still sitting in the position where not one person has been charged with murder at Omagh."

A spokesman for the Omagh Victims' Civil Action Group also welcomed the sentence but said its campaign to take the Omagh bombers to court would continue.

"McKevitt's conviction has strengthened our determination but we still need £800,000 to fight our case." The spokesman, noted, however, that McKevitt - now a convicted terrorist - would have his defence paid for through legal aid.

Republican Sinn Féin, which is linked to the dissident republican paramilitary group, Continuity IRA, condemned the sentence.

Its president, Mr Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, said: "The sentencing of Michael McKevitt was brought about by the base combination of the special non-jury court and the use of an agent provocateur employed by and paid for by the FBI and the British Security Services."

Mr McDowell acknowledged "the painstaking professionalism of the Garda Síochána, and the necessary co-operation between law enforcement agencies in Ireland, the UK and the USA" in the case.

He stressed the need to uphold the principles of the Belfast Agreement which was ratified by the majority of people in both parts of the island.