The Real IRA terrorist group responsible for the 1998 Omagh bomb has announced that it is to disband.
The organisation announced the move in a statement published in the Sunday Independent newspaper.
The statement, issued by men inside Portlaoise jail, said the Real IRA was at an end and only a few "corrupt" members of the Real IRA were "fraternising with criminal elements".
It also confirmed the Real IRA involvement in the Omagh bombing, when 29 people were killed and another 200 injured.
The Real IRA also referred in a separate briefing document to the deaths in the Omagh explosion, saying they had irreparably "damaged" the Irish Republican struggle.
The statement - which was drafted last Thursday - said the attack had been launched with the Continuity IRA fellow terrorist faction.
The alleged leader of the organisation, Mr Michael McKevitt, from Dundalk, Co Louth, is due to be tried in Special Criminal Court early next year, becoming the first man to be charged with directing terrorism under the terms of legislation introduced in response to the Omagh bomb.
Mr Michael Gallagher, whose son died in the Omagh bombing, said it was "great news" but he wanted to know at what price the disbandment had been achieved.
"We are aware that the Irish government have been in talks with the Real IRA for some considerable time," he said.
"The Irish government must come clean about how this was brought about and what concessions and incentives were given. Is this going to affect the search for the Omagh bombers?"
PA