Members of the Democratic Unionist Party sitting on Fermanagh and Omagh DUP District Council have lodged a complaint  to the Local Government Commissioner for Standards, after an independent councillor  brought a proposal against the extradition of Liam Campbell.

The announcement comes after an independent republican Councillor Gary Donnelly of neighbouring Derry And Strabane Council indicated his intention to bring forward the same motion – a move which has left victims “appalled and re-traumatised".

Campbell was found civilly liable for the Omagh bomb in 1998, which claimed the lives of 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins and injured 220 others.

During a meeting of the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s Policy and Resources Committee last week, Independent Councillor Bernice Swift sought support in opposing Campbell’s extradition under human rights.

After a 12 year legal battle, the High Court in Dublin ordered his extradition to Lithuania where a European Arrest Warrant was issued in 2016. This states he allegedly organised the smuggling of weapons in support of “terrorist grouping” the Real IRA between 2006 and 2007.

The order was due to be activated on 13 July but was adjourned while the judge considered further legal issues.

During the meeting, Chairman Councillor Stephen McCann, permitted the last minute notice of the proposal and refused to allow open debate, moving quickly into confidential business. When some members tried to speak he ordered the recording to be stopped.

DUP Group Leader Councillor Errol Thompson today said: “We have lodged our complaint against Councillor Bernice Swift and Councillor and Chair of the Policy and Resources committee Stephen McCann. We believe the standards of which the public expect of councillors has been profoundly damaged.

“The proposal raised is not within the remit of the council and should not be accepted as reasonable business for the council to conduct. It has instead insulted Omagh bomb victims and upset many within the community.

“In August 1998 there was widespread cross community condemnation of the Omagh bomb. The lives of 29 people and two unborn children were lost. Each of us will have our individual stories of that day. For me I was a serving in Lisnaelly Barracks, which was also used as a temporary morgue and will never forget the trauma of that day

“It is disgusting that representatives in our Council chamber thought this proposal was legitimate given the damage caused by Liam Campbell to Omagh and its people. I and my Party colleagues were deeply upset that councillors supported the proposal.

“When it comes before the chamber at the full council meeting next week, we will again strongly oppose it. We urge others to speak up, speak out and reject this proposal also. Furthermore, we implore on Councillor Swift to think upon the hurt and damage she has caused to community relations as a result of her deplorable proposal.”

Victims Campaigner Claire Monteith who lost her brother Alan in the Omagh atrocity, and has lodged complaints with the Commissioner, said, “There seems to be no end to the lengths some people will go to intentionally hurt and exacerbate grief. It’s not enough for them to see Campbell held liable for Omagh, but outside the reach of justice. They now want to have him escape due process in other matters. And let’s be honest, it is about escaping. None of those proposing or supporting the move against extradition are offering anything by way of alternative. The human rights angle is a rouse. Campbell’s extradition has been ordered by the Irish courts to Lithuania as an EU member state, which is required to implement all sections of the Convention of Human Rights. That’s a lot more than was afforded to victims and continues to be denied those grieving.

“In a clear attempt to row back and apparently designed to soothe Omagh victims’ concerns, there has been a call for a Truth Commission, which translates as an amnesty. We want justice, not excuses.

“The fact councils, as government bodies are permitting these repeated, insensitive issues into the chambers, is impacting on the human rights of every victim. But for Fermanagh and Omagh Council in particular to start this off – the very local government authority for the area in question – was utterly appalling and has once again retraumatised victims.

Claire, who spoke out after the proposal, confirmed she has been contacted by Daniel McCrossan MLA on behalf of the SDLP, but to date has heard from no-one else who supported the move.