Several relatives of victims of the Omagh bombing were in court for the judgment in the case of Michael McKevitt today.
The Omagh Victims' Civil Action Group said: "Today's judgement is a great step forward in our fight for justice for those who were murdered in the Omagh bomb. We now know what we suspected all along: McKevitt is a terrorist, a man who the blood of innocent people on his hands.
"The judgement bolsters our determination to see our civil legal action against the Real IRA through the courts," it said.
Mr Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aiden was killed in the attack, said: "I'm absolutely delighted the verdict has gone the way it has.
"He [McKevitt] cannot orchestrate another atrocity such as Omagh".
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Speaking after the verdict Mr Laurence Rush, whose wife Elizabeth died in the Omagh bombing, said: "I am delighted that McKevitt, although he didn't appear there, even though he was requested to appear . . . I am delighted that he was convicted on both charges".
He said that the State had been vindicated but added: "It still leaves a wanting in myself. . . . It has been a really really long five years and it still hasn't ended".
"Maybe he [McKevitt] might get a sentence which is parallel to the sentence he has given us in Omagh. I am very, very, very happy. I applaud the judges. I hope that we will continue this," Mr Rush said.
He said that he was convinced that the witness Mr David Rupert had been truthful during the trial.
Asked if had a message for McKevitt, Mr Rush said: "You make your bed, you lie in it and the judge will decide how long he will lie in it".
Det Insp Callinan said it was a significant conviction but warned there was a continuing threat to the democratic process in this country from dissident Republicans.