POLICE GRAB OMAGH BOMB SUSPECT AS HE DRIVES WIFE TO WORK
Police grab Omagh bomb suspect as he drives wife to work
BY LESLEY-ANNE HENRY
lhenry@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
ALLEGED Omagh bomber Liam Campbell secretly crossed the border to leave his wife to work, a court has heard.
The dissident republican (46), who is wanted in Lithuania on weapons charges, was arrested last Friday as he drove through Bessbrook in Co Armagh.
After police rammed his vehicle, he was detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and questioned for five days at the PSNI's serious crime suite in Antrim. He was released without charge but immediately re-arrested on Tuesday under a European Arrest Warrant issued in Lithuania.
In the dock at Belfast Recorders Court yesterday afternoon Campbell, from Dundalk, spoke only to confirm his identity.
Dressed in a navy Le Coq Sportif polo shirt and blue jeans, a tanned Mr Campbell appeared nervous. He walked into the dock handcuffed to a prison guard but managed a wave to his wife who sat in the public gallery with her arm in a bandage.
A few seats away sat Willie Frazer from victims' group FAIR, while armed PSNI officers were posted both inside and outside the courtroom.
Extradition proceedings against Mr Campbell have been ongoing in the Republic for the past six months. As part of his bail conditions he is forbidden from leaving the jurisdiction.
But defence solicitor Peter Corrigan said he had breached his bail because his wife had fractured her hand and was unable to drive.
"The reason he went into the north was in relation to leave his wife to work, she works in Bessbrook. His wife is in court. His wife had an accident and sustained a fractured left hand which meant that she couldn't drive. Mr Campbell was driving his wife at 8.30am when he was arrested and was on his way back to the Republic of Ireland. The police during interviews asked Mr Campbell 'why were you driving to get back into the Republic? Why did we have to ram your car?'
"He was going back to the Republic to sign and comply with his bail conditions in Dundalk," he said.
A lawyer seeking to have Campbell extradited described him as a "leading member" of a terror group "for which the threat is categorised as severe".
Barrister Steve Ritchie also said he feared the defendant may not return if bail was granted.
"The matters for which Mr Campbell and others named on the warrant are sought for are very serious offences, if true. They, in essence, amount to the acquisition of a large quantity of firearms, ammunition, explosive devices and substances including automatic rifles, sniper guns, projectors, detonators and timers, and to bring them from the Republic of Lithuania to Ireland.
"We say that in the context of this jurisdiction these are particularly serious matters.
"There is a real risk that if granted bail the defendant would not turn up to answer to that bail," he said.
Judge Tom Burgess described the case as "very unusual". He said it was in "everyone's interest" to have the extradition dealt with as quickly as possible.
Campbell, was convicted of membership of an illegal organisation in 2000.
Campbell was remanded in custody to appear again at Belfast Recorders Court tomorrow.
BY LESLEY-ANNE HENRY
lhenry@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
ALLEGED Omagh bomber Liam Campbell secretly crossed the border to leave his wife to work, a court has heard.
The dissident republican (46), who is wanted in Lithuania on weapons charges, was arrested last Friday as he drove through Bessbrook in Co Armagh.
After police rammed his vehicle, he was detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and questioned for five days at the PSNI's serious crime suite in Antrim. He was released without charge but immediately re-arrested on Tuesday under a European Arrest Warrant issued in Lithuania.
In the dock at Belfast Recorders Court yesterday afternoon Campbell, from Dundalk, spoke only to confirm his identity.
Dressed in a navy Le Coq Sportif polo shirt and blue jeans, a tanned Mr Campbell appeared nervous. He walked into the dock handcuffed to a prison guard but managed a wave to his wife who sat in the public gallery with her arm in a bandage.
A few seats away sat Willie Frazer from victims' group FAIR, while armed PSNI officers were posted both inside and outside the courtroom.
Extradition proceedings against Mr Campbell have been ongoing in the Republic for the past six months. As part of his bail conditions he is forbidden from leaving the jurisdiction.
But defence solicitor Peter Corrigan said he had breached his bail because his wife had fractured her hand and was unable to drive.
"The reason he went into the north was in relation to leave his wife to work, she works in Bessbrook. His wife is in court. His wife had an accident and sustained a fractured left hand which meant that she couldn't drive. Mr Campbell was driving his wife at 8.30am when he was arrested and was on his way back to the Republic of Ireland. The police during interviews asked Mr Campbell 'why were you driving to get back into the Republic? Why did we have to ram your car?'
"He was going back to the Republic to sign and comply with his bail conditions in Dundalk," he said.
A lawyer seeking to have Campbell extradited described him as a "leading member" of a terror group "for which the threat is categorised as severe".
Barrister Steve Ritchie also said he feared the defendant may not return if bail was granted.
"The matters for which Mr Campbell and others named on the warrant are sought for are very serious offences, if true. They, in essence, amount to the acquisition of a large quantity of firearms, ammunition, explosive devices and substances including automatic rifles, sniper guns, projectors, detonators and timers, and to bring them from the Republic of Lithuania to Ireland.
"We say that in the context of this jurisdiction these are particularly serious matters.
"There is a real risk that if granted bail the defendant would not turn up to answer to that bail," he said.
Judge Tom Burgess described the case as "very unusual". He said it was in "everyone's interest" to have the extradition dealt with as quickly as possible.
Campbell, was convicted of membership of an illegal organisation in 2000.
Campbell was remanded in custody to appear again at Belfast Recorders Court tomorrow.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/1137
Published Date: 28-May-09
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