GRINNING BOMBER ABANDONED CAR IN OMAGH EXPLOSION
Grinning' bomber abandoned car in Omagh explosion
BY LESLEY-ANNE HENRY
lhenry@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
ONE of the Omagh bombers "grinned" at a woman as he abandoned a massive car bomb about six feet away, a court heard yesterday.
In a statement read out during day three of a landmark civil action at Belfast High Court, Elizabeth Buchannan, said she "caught eye contact" with one of the men as he walked away from the maroon Vauxhall Cavalier that exploded causing the single worst atrocity of the Troubles.
Twenty nine people including a woman pregnant with twins, were killed and 200 others injured by the 500lb blast on August 15, 1998.
Families of some of those killed are suing five men they believe were behind the terror attack in the first ever civil action of its kind.
Michael McKevitt, Seamus Daly, Seamus McKenna, Liam Campbell and Colm Murphy deny any part in the massacre.
In a statement read by Brett Lockhart QC, Mrs Buchannan said the man who was a passenger in the maroon Cavalier appeared "calm and relaxed" as he walked away from the vehicle packed with explosives.
She described him as a "good looking man" in his 20s, about 6ft tall, with short dark neat hair, a long face and a clear complexion.
She had been in Omagh with her mother and was parked outside SD Kells shop and had an unobstructed view of the two men who left the car bomb about six feet away.
The driver of the vehicle, who crossed in front of her, was said to be in his mid 20s, slightly heavy build, about 5ft 9ins tall and with dirty fair neat hair. He was clean shaven, had sallow skin, a natural tan and a "serious expression" as he looked down Market Street before making off.
She said both men seemed to be in a hurry, appeared "very neat" looked like soldiers.
Mrs Buchannan left Omagh about half an hour before the bomb exploded.
One of Northern Ireland's top forensic scientists was also called to give evidence at the trial yesterday.
Dennis McAuley, a lead forensic scientist of 32 years experience told the court that forensic teams sifted through 13 skips and 28 bins and assorted bags of debris from the explosion and recovered components of the bomb.
About 180 fragments of shrapnel such as twisted or ragged metal, plastic, wood, wire glass and stone were recovered from 60 injured people. Much of this
debris came from the car which was blown to pieces and embedded into the people closest, it was claimed.
"The largest fragment was approximately eight inches by two inches," said Mr McAuley.
He also said the 'Coupatan' timing devices used to detonate the Omagh bomb were used to cause at least 15 other explosions across Northern Ireland in 1998.
Mr McAuley presented a mock up of the Mark 19 lunchbox bomb which had a timer power unit and two toggle switches. He said there was no dial on the timer to give an accurate indication of time delays.
This he suggested meant: "The person using this unit isn't interested in a very specific time delay because they can't gauge exactly what time you're setting."
A chart also produced to the court suggested Mark 19 devices were used among others to attack an RUC station at Forkhill, Market Street in Lisburn and Newry Street, Banbridge. Mr McAuley said that Coupatan timers could be traced to a factory in France and a lengthy product code confirmed it was made during 1997. Also in the witness box, police sergeant, Robert Leonard, said a bogus company with an address and bank account in Dundalk placed a one-off order for 480 Coupatan timers. At hearing.
BY LESLEY-ANNE HENRY
lhenry@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
ONE of the Omagh bombers "grinned" at a woman as he abandoned a massive car bomb about six feet away, a court heard yesterday.
In a statement read out during day three of a landmark civil action at Belfast High Court, Elizabeth Buchannan, said she "caught eye contact" with one of the men as he walked away from the maroon Vauxhall Cavalier that exploded causing the single worst atrocity of the Troubles.
Twenty nine people including a woman pregnant with twins, were killed and 200 others injured by the 500lb blast on August 15, 1998.
Families of some of those killed are suing five men they believe were behind the terror attack in the first ever civil action of its kind.
Michael McKevitt, Seamus Daly, Seamus McKenna, Liam Campbell and Colm Murphy deny any part in the massacre.
In a statement read by Brett Lockhart QC, Mrs Buchannan said the man who was a passenger in the maroon Cavalier appeared "calm and relaxed" as he walked away from the vehicle packed with explosives.
She described him as a "good looking man" in his 20s, about 6ft tall, with short dark neat hair, a long face and a clear complexion.
She had been in Omagh with her mother and was parked outside SD Kells shop and had an unobstructed view of the two men who left the car bomb about six feet away.
The driver of the vehicle, who crossed in front of her, was said to be in his mid 20s, slightly heavy build, about 5ft 9ins tall and with dirty fair neat hair. He was clean shaven, had sallow skin, a natural tan and a "serious expression" as he looked down Market Street before making off.
She said both men seemed to be in a hurry, appeared "very neat" looked like soldiers.
Mrs Buchannan left Omagh about half an hour before the bomb exploded.
One of Northern Ireland's top forensic scientists was also called to give evidence at the trial yesterday.
Dennis McAuley, a lead forensic scientist of 32 years experience told the court that forensic teams sifted through 13 skips and 28 bins and assorted bags of debris from the explosion and recovered components of the bomb.
About 180 fragments of shrapnel such as twisted or ragged metal, plastic, wood, wire glass and stone were recovered from 60 injured people. Much of this
debris came from the car which was blown to pieces and embedded into the people closest, it was claimed.
"The largest fragment was approximately eight inches by two inches," said Mr McAuley.
He also said the 'Coupatan' timing devices used to detonate the Omagh bomb were used to cause at least 15 other explosions across Northern Ireland in 1998.
Mr McAuley presented a mock up of the Mark 19 lunchbox bomb which had a timer power unit and two toggle switches. He said there was no dial on the timer to give an accurate indication of time delays.
This he suggested meant: "The person using this unit isn't interested in a very specific time delay because they can't gauge exactly what time you're setting."
A chart also produced to the court suggested Mark 19 devices were used among others to attack an RUC station at Forkhill, Market Street in Lisburn and Newry Street, Banbridge. Mr McAuley said that Coupatan timers could be traced to a factory in France and a lengthy product code confirmed it was made during 1997. Also in the witness box, police sergeant, Robert Leonard, said a bogus company with an address and bank account in Dundalk placed a one-off order for 480 Coupatan timers. At hearing.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/1079
Published Date: 10-Apr-08
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