OMAGH SUSPECT WAS DROWNING SORROWS
Omagh suspect was 'drowning sorrows'
By Alan Erwin
newseditor@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
ONE of the Omagh bomb suspects was allegedly "drowning his sorrows" on the night of the atrocity, the High Court heard yesterday.
Detectives were told Seamus McKenna had gone on a drinking session in Dundalk, Co Louth following the dissident republican terrorist attack which killed 29 people and unborn twins.
The claim was made to police by Patrick Morgan, who worked for businessman Colm Murphy - another of the five men being sued by relatives of some of the victims.
Transcripts from his interviews were read out at the multi-million pound civil action being heard at
the High Court in Belfast. McKenna, Murphy, Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell and Seamus Daly all deny responsibility for the August 1998 massacre.
Morgan had been brought in for questioning months after the attack because the investigation team believed a phone he lent to his boss was used in the car which drove the bomb to the scene.
The court heard he gave conflicting accounts of how many people were in the Emerald Bar, that Murphy ran in Dundalk, on the night of the attack.
Brian Fee QC, for McKenna, said: "Even small things like the number of people in the bar Mr Morgan gives different estimates.
"At one time he would say there was virtually no one in it except for Mr Murphy and his crowd.
"At other times he says maybe 20 people and then 60 people."
Mr Fee also pointed out how Morgan gave different versions of his reply when allegedly teased in the bar about having driven the bomb car to the County Tyrone town.
And during cross examination of Thomas Dempster, one of the detectives who questioned Morgan, the barrister read out interview notes where it was claimed "McKenna was on the rip".
He told police: "I assumed it was something to do with Omagh when he was on the drink, drowning his sorrows."
When detectives asked if there was anything more to back up this big assumption he could give nothing else, according to notes.
Mr Fee claimed: "He changed his mind frequently about who he saw and what he heard; that frustrated interviewing officers.
"In relation to his suggestion about Mr McKenna being on the rip it's pointed out to him, not in your interview but other interviews, that it doesn't tell a lot because Mr McKenna was frequently on the rip and took long days off.
"He was a good worker when he was on site but would disappear both before and after the Omagh bomb for days when he decided to take a drink."
Asked if getting a consistent account from Morgan was difficult in interviews, Mr Dempster replied: "It would appear to be from the notes, but I don't have any recollection."
The officer confirmed he was not aware that Morgan later withdrew all versions he had given to police. The trial was adjourned until Tuesday.
By Alan Erwin
newseditor@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
ONE of the Omagh bomb suspects was allegedly "drowning his sorrows" on the night of the atrocity, the High Court heard yesterday.
Detectives were told Seamus McKenna had gone on a drinking session in Dundalk, Co Louth following the dissident republican terrorist attack which killed 29 people and unborn twins.
The claim was made to police by Patrick Morgan, who worked for businessman Colm Murphy - another of the five men being sued by relatives of some of the victims.
Transcripts from his interviews were read out at the multi-million pound civil action being heard at
the High Court in Belfast. McKenna, Murphy, Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell and Seamus Daly all deny responsibility for the August 1998 massacre.
Morgan had been brought in for questioning months after the attack because the investigation team believed a phone he lent to his boss was used in the car which drove the bomb to the scene.
The court heard he gave conflicting accounts of how many people were in the Emerald Bar, that Murphy ran in Dundalk, on the night of the attack.
Brian Fee QC, for McKenna, said: "Even small things like the number of people in the bar Mr Morgan gives different estimates.
"At one time he would say there was virtually no one in it except for Mr Murphy and his crowd.
"At other times he says maybe 20 people and then 60 people."
Mr Fee also pointed out how Morgan gave different versions of his reply when allegedly teased in the bar about having driven the bomb car to the County Tyrone town.
And during cross examination of Thomas Dempster, one of the detectives who questioned Morgan, the barrister read out interview notes where it was claimed "McKenna was on the rip".
He told police: "I assumed it was something to do with Omagh when he was on the drink, drowning his sorrows."
When detectives asked if there was anything more to back up this big assumption he could give nothing else, according to notes.
Mr Fee claimed: "He changed his mind frequently about who he saw and what he heard; that frustrated interviewing officers.
"In relation to his suggestion about Mr McKenna being on the rip it's pointed out to him, not in your interview but other interviews, that it doesn't tell a lot because Mr McKenna was frequently on the rip and took long days off.
"He was a good worker when he was on site but would disappear both before and after the Omagh bomb for days when he decided to take a drink."
Asked if getting a consistent account from Morgan was difficult in interviews, Mr Dempster replied: "It would appear to be from the notes, but I don't have any recollection."
The officer confirmed he was not aware that Morgan later withdrew all versions he had given to police. The trial was adjourned until Tuesday.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/1114
Published Date: 20-Sep-08
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