THE family of a convicted IRA bomber who brought terror to mainland Britain are suing police for damages over their arrest when he was captured.

Sean McNulty, who was aged 25 at the time, was jailed for 25 years at the Old Bailey in August 1994 after blowing up an Esso oil terminal in his home town of North Shields, and a gas tanker in Dunston, Gateshead.

Codenamed "The Icecube" by MI5, he was released from the Maze Prison in 2000 as part of the Good Friday Agreement.

Now five members of his family, his former girlfriend and her children are suing Northumbria Police for damages after they were arrested as part of the investigation into the 1993 bombings.

McNulty's mother and father, Dorothy and Bernard, his uncle Niall and sister Annette were held for questioning under the Prevention of Terrorism Act on suspicion of withholding evidence. Susan Hunter, McNulty's 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 at the Old Bailey, the prosecuting authorities dropped the case.

After the hearing the McNulty family's solicitor Gareth Pearce said there had been procedural problems involving the review of the family's detentions.

Bernard McNulty, 49, who suffered from a heart condition, died of a heart attack while on bail.

McNulty's mother Dorothy, 54, aunt, Valerie McNulty, 52, uncle Niall McNulty, 52, and Susan Hunter, 41, all claim their arrests were unlawful.

Northumbria Police is contesting the legal action and must prove that the arrests were on suspicion rising from objectively reasonable grounds.