The five men suspected of the "Real IRA" Omagh bombing in 1998 are being sued for £10 million by families of the murdered.
Lawyers yesterday lodged a huge legal document which confirms the scale of damages they want awarded against Mr Michael McKevitt (51), Liam Campbell, (38), Colm Murphy (51), Mr Seamus McKenna (49), and 33-year-old Seamus Daly.
The no-warning bombing in August 1998 claimed 29 lives including a mother pregnant with twins. The "statement of claim" details the agony endured by relatives of some of the 29 people murdered.
However, Mr Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aidan died in the explosion, said the High Court action was not about money. He added: "Hopefully this will send a clear message that terrorism is not a profitable business to be involved in.
"We have cleared another hurdle and are now in the final stages now before we get to court." He was supported yesterday by Mr Victor Barker whose 12-year-old son was killed.
He told BBC Northern Ireland yesterday: "This is not about money, it's about the search for justice for the families. The likelihood of recovery of substantial sums of money is very limited.
"The families wish to have their cases heard and for someone to decide in a court of law, in accordance with the principles of justice, who was responsible for what happened."
The civil action is expected to be heard in Belfast later this year or in early 2004.
Before then, lawyers for the five men named must respond to the detailed claims. One man is understood to be seeking £300,000 for the loss of a wife and mother. Sources close to the court action yesterday confirmed the aggravated damages and individual claims are in the region of more than £10 million.
Even though the police investigation was the biggest conducted in Northern Ireland and the Republic, nobody has been charged with any of the murders.
The document, which outlines allegations against the five suspects and the level of suffering endured by the victims' families, is the culmination of an intensive effort by their solicitors and barristers.
Writs were served against all five last July after solicitors travelled to homes and prisons in the Republic. Murphy has been jailed for 14 years for conspiracy to commit explosions in connection with the Omagh attack.
Campbell is serving a five year sentence for membership of an illegal organisation. He faces a €1 million tax bill from the Criminal Assets Bureau while Mr McKevitt is due to go on trial charged with directing terrorism early next month. These two have already announced they plan to contest the case against them. A decision to grant them legal aid has infuriated the victims' relatives.
Mr Gallagher was particularly incensed that Campbell should benefit after the Criminal Assets Bureau seized hundreds of thousands of pounds belonging to him.
He said: "It appears this man has substantial means and if that's true all legal aid should be withdrawn." A spokesman for McShane & Co Solicitors in Newry, Co Down, which is acting for Campbell, refused to comment on the document.
Kevin Winters' law firm in Belfast, acting for McKevitt, also declined to comment.