BT/1090

Man quizzed by Gardai wouldn't condemn blast
BY SARAH STACK
newseditor@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

ONE of the men accused of carrying out the Omagh bombing told detectives the loss of innocent lives was a disaster, a court has heard.
Investigating officers claimed Colm Murphy said the blast, which killed 29 people including a women pregnant with twins, was a tragedy and an outrage but maintained he had nothing to do with it.
Detective Garda James Hanley told the Omagh civil action case in Dublin that Murphy would not condemn the attack when he was arrested in February 1999 for the unlawful possession of explosive substances in Dundalk between August 13 and 15, 1998.
The RIRA bomb exploded on August 15, a busy Saturday afternoon, injuring hundreds.
Alleged RIRA leader Michael McKevitt; Liam Campbell, said to be his number two; Murphy; Seamus McKenna and Seamus Daly all deny any involvement.
The court heard Det Garda Hanley, who has since retired, interviewed Murphy six times in Monaghan Garda Station in February 1999 during which he was told his mobile phone signal had been picked up at a number of locations in Northern Ireland, including Omagh, on August 15.
Reading from his interview notes, the former garda said Murphy first maintained he had his phone at all times at home, but later admitted lending it to another man.
Det Gda Hanley said officers asked Murphy if he condemned the attack.
"I'm not in the business of condemning, as I said it was a tragedy," he replied.
It was claimed Murphy also told garda officers that even if he got 20 years his conscience was clear.
"I wasn't in Omagh. It does me good to know I wasn't there," he said.
He later told officers that the loss of innocent lives was a disaster.
"I have told you what I know," he said.
"If I could change things I would. But other people have caused this disaster."
Murphy, 56, was convicted in connection with Omagh in 2002, but later had his conviction overturned following claims two officers lied during his trial.
The £14 million groundbreaking action by six families is the first time the victims of terrorism are confronting the alleged perpetrators and the first time evidence from a Northern Ireland case has been heard in the Republic.
Meanwhile, it emerged that six senior gardai, including Assistant Commissioner Kevin Carty, will not be called to testify at the Dublin court.
Lord Daniel Brennan QC, for the Omagh families, said Detective Superintendent Tadgh Foley, Chief Superintendent Peter Maguire, Detective Chief Superintendent Colm Rooney, Chief Superintendent Michael Finnegan and Detective Superintendent Martin Callinan will also not appear in the witness box.
The evidence is being heard by District Court Judge Conal Gibbons in the presence of Mr Justice Morgan, who presided over the case in Belfast Crown Court but had no judicial powers in Dublin.