The Real IRA was ruled to be a legal organisation yesterday.

Mr Justice Girvan said that the republican terrorist group behind the Omagh bombing could not be a proscribed group as the government had failed to list it among 14 Irish terrorist groups in the Terrorism Act 2000.

"The government is very concerned at this ruling," said a Northern Ireland Office spokesman.

"The government is clear that RIRA should be a proscribed organisation."