"Real IRA" leader Michael McKevitt is to mount a legal challenge to the British government's decision to fund a High Court civil case being taken by relatives by those killed in the Omagh bombing.
Court officials in Belfast confirmed today papers have been lodged opposing the decision.
Families of the bomb victims seeking £14 million sterling compensation against the men they blame for the atrocity. Their case has been funded to the tune of almost £800,000 by London.
McKevitt (54) from Blackrock near Dundalk, Co Louth, who is serving 20 years for directing terrorism, is one of five men being sued in the civil action by some of the relatives of the 29 people who were killed in the August 1998 bombing.
Last year he lost a battle for legal aid to defend himself against the action.