OMAGH: I'M GLAD HE IS IN JAIL
OMAGH
I'm glad he is in jail. But the sentence came nowhere near the type of crime
From EXTRA reporter SEAN O'DRISCOLL in Dublin
COLM Murphy was jailed for less than six months for each of the people he helped to kill, the chairman of the Omagh Victim Group said after the sentencing. Mr Gallagher said he was glad Murphy was now in prison but the sentence came nowhere near the type of punishment that fitted the crime that had been committed. He said: "I hope that the message to come out of the Special Criminal Court today is that if you end up here, and we hope very much that you do, you will get what you deserve.
"The sentence handed down might seem extreme but for the people who died, to quantify it, it will end up less than six months of their lives."
Investigation
Mr Gallagher, whose 21 -year-old son Aidan was killed in the atrocity, also revealed the Omagh Victim Group came very close to withdrawing co-operation with the Omagh investigation after yesterday's crunch meeting with the Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan.
The group only stopped short at the last moment because it was such a huge move.
Elizabeth Gibson, whose sister Esther was killed in the bombing, said that she initially felt that 14 years was a long time, but then realised that it was less than six months for each of the people murdered.
She expressed her anger that one of Murphy's supporters shouted "Shame!'" as she and the other Omagh families clapped as Murphy was being led away to prison. "The woman was right behind us. I think we should have been allowed our moment," she said.
Justice
Kevin Skelton, who lost his wife in the bombing, said the jail sentence was "the start of a long journey" and that another 16 people involved in the bombing would have to be brought to justice before the families could find peace.
He said: "I didn't care what Murphy got. As long as the world knows what he did, as long as he has been brought to justice."
Carol Radford, who lost her brother Alan blast, said she was delighted to see Murphy being put away, but added she wanted to see a whole new investigation team being put in place before she could support the police.
She said: "I just want some feeling that the police are doing their jobs and that all the other Colm Murphys out there will be brought to justice."
I'm glad he is in jail. But the sentence came nowhere near the type of crime
From EXTRA reporter SEAN O'DRISCOLL in Dublin
COLM Murphy was jailed for less than six months for each of the people he helped to kill, the chairman of the Omagh Victim Group said after the sentencing. Mr Gallagher said he was glad Murphy was now in prison but the sentence came nowhere near the type of punishment that fitted the crime that had been committed. He said: "I hope that the message to come out of the Special Criminal Court today is that if you end up here, and we hope very much that you do, you will get what you deserve.
"The sentence handed down might seem extreme but for the people who died, to quantify it, it will end up less than six months of their lives."
Investigation
Mr Gallagher, whose 21 -year-old son Aidan was killed in the atrocity, also revealed the Omagh Victim Group came very close to withdrawing co-operation with the Omagh investigation after yesterday's crunch meeting with the Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan.
The group only stopped short at the last moment because it was such a huge move.
Elizabeth Gibson, whose sister Esther was killed in the bombing, said that she initially felt that 14 years was a long time, but then realised that it was less than six months for each of the people murdered.
She expressed her anger that one of Murphy's supporters shouted "Shame!'" as she and the other Omagh families clapped as Murphy was being led away to prison. "The woman was right behind us. I think we should have been allowed our moment," she said.
Justice
Kevin Skelton, who lost his wife in the bombing, said the jail sentence was "the start of a long journey" and that another 16 people involved in the bombing would have to be brought to justice before the families could find peace.
He said: "I didn't care what Murphy got. As long as the world knows what he did, as long as he has been brought to justice."
Carol Radford, who lost her brother Alan blast, said she was delighted to see Murphy being put away, but added she wanted to see a whole new investigation team being put in place before she could support the police.
She said: "I just want some feeling that the police are doing their jobs and that all the other Colm Murphys out there will be brought to justice."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH EXTRA
Ref: BT/0838
Published Date: 26-Jan-02
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