DEFENCE LAWYERS are to call the ex-wife of an Omagh bomb suspect to give evidence at the multi-million pound civil trial in Belfast, it has been revealed.
Séamus McKenna's legal team confirmed they want to cross-examine his former partner Catherine about her interviews with detectives seeking those behind the atrocity. Brian Fee QC was granted permission to seek to have Terence Patrick Morgan, a former associate of Mr McKenna's, put in the witness box.
Both will be asked to attend the landmark action, in which relatives of some of the 29 people killed in the Real IRA attack are seeking damages from five men they hold responsible.
Neither is compelled to turn up, but subpoenas could be issued.
The High Court case has heard police transcripts of questioning of both potential witnesses.
At one stage Catherine McKenna allegedly lied to detectives about phone contact she had with her former husband less than an hour after the attack on Omagh.
A detective who gave evidence earlier in the trial said she gave a false account of being in Galway on August 15th when the bomb went off.
Mrs McKenna could give no explanation for the contact. She also described Mr McKenna as a drunkard who rarely contacted his family when sober, the transcripts disclosed. Lawyers also want to cross-examine Mr Morgan about his police interviews.
The court has heard further allegations that Mr Morgan, who worked for Colm Murphy - another of the five men being sued - lent his mobile phone to his boss the day before the bombing.
The five men named in the civil action, who include convicted Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt and Liam Campbell, all deny responsibility.
The trial continues today.