THE family of an IRA bomber have lost a legal battle over their arrest - at a cost of £55,000 to the taxpayer.

Mr Justice Potts said police would have been "failing in their duty" if they had not arrested those closest to Sean McNulty.

There was anger yesterday that the case was brought to court using legal aid funds.

Michael Craik, Deputy Chief Constable of Northumbria, said: "I am angry that after all these years these people have the temerity to come back and challenge the professionalism of the officers publicly. I am pleased that the judgement decision clearly and unequivocally vindicates the officers.

"But I am angry at the expense of the case to my officers and to the taxpayer."

Sean McNulty was jailed for 25 years after blowing up an oil terminal and a gas tanker at North Shields, but was released from the Maze Prison in 2000 as part of the Good Friday Agreement.

Five members of his family, together with his then girlfriend and one of her children, sued Northumbria Police for damages after they were arrested as part of the investigation into the 1993 bombings.

But Mr Justice Potts, at the High Court sitting in Newcastle yesterday, dismissed the claims of the family. He said: "This operation was conducted in accordance with the law from start to finish."

McNulty's mother and father, Dorothy and Bernard, his uncle Niall and sister Annette were all held for questioning under the Prevention of Terrorism Act on suspicion of withholding evidence.

Susan Hunter, his girlfriend at the time, was also arrested and detained for questioning.

Dorothy, Bernard and Niall spent three months behind bars but days before their trial was due to start, the prosecution dropped the case. Bernard McNulty, 49, died of a heart attack while on bail. The remaining four claimed their arrests were unlawful.