OMAGH NOT MENTIONED BUT EVERYBODY KNEW
Omagh not mentioned but everybody knew
By MARTHA KEARNS
ALTHOUGH the word "Omagh" was never mentioned in court, the memory of that day, which tore the country apart while simultaneously, uniting both sides of the border in grief, hung in the air.
For more than six months the country has been waiting for someone to take responsibility for the horrific bombing of August 15 which claimed the lives of 29 people and ruined countless more.
While that day is still a long way off, one small step was made yesterday when the first man faced charges connected with the bombing.
Reporters, photographers and camera crews had been gathering around the Special Criminal Court from 10am waiting for a glimpse of the man about to be charged.
And when he did appear, just after 11am the unusual looking suspect spent an anti-climactic 10 minutes in court and spoke only one word.
"Yes." he replied when asked by the court registrar if his name was Colm Murphy.
As he was led up the stone steps from the underground cells to the dock, the small figure kept his eyes fixed ahead.
Dressed in a dark green suit, a bright yellow shirt, a yellow patterned tie the 48-year-old building contractor took his seat between two gardai.
Reporters and gardai turned to catch a glimpse of the balding man with tufts of lank brown hair peeping over the back of his shirt collar.
Although he showed no emotion. his eyes betrayed a nervousness that could almost be interpreted as fear.
He was charged with conspiring in Dundalk with another person not before the court to cause an explosion likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property. And with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA. otherwise known as Oglaigh na hEireann.
Murphy did not reply to the charges.
Turning to take his seat, he looked around at the press benches, the gardai and barristers and up to the public gallery, making the briefest of eye contact with some.
As he turned to walk back down the steep narrow steps leading from the dock, again he kept his eyes fixed ahead as the light caught a gold signet-type ring on his wedding linger.
By MARTHA KEARNS
ALTHOUGH the word "Omagh" was never mentioned in court, the memory of that day, which tore the country apart while simultaneously, uniting both sides of the border in grief, hung in the air.
For more than six months the country has been waiting for someone to take responsibility for the horrific bombing of August 15 which claimed the lives of 29 people and ruined countless more.
While that day is still a long way off, one small step was made yesterday when the first man faced charges connected with the bombing.
Reporters, photographers and camera crews had been gathering around the Special Criminal Court from 10am waiting for a glimpse of the man about to be charged.
And when he did appear, just after 11am the unusual looking suspect spent an anti-climactic 10 minutes in court and spoke only one word.
"Yes." he replied when asked by the court registrar if his name was Colm Murphy.
As he was led up the stone steps from the underground cells to the dock, the small figure kept his eyes fixed ahead.
Dressed in a dark green suit, a bright yellow shirt, a yellow patterned tie the 48-year-old building contractor took his seat between two gardai.
Reporters and gardai turned to catch a glimpse of the balding man with tufts of lank brown hair peeping over the back of his shirt collar.
Although he showed no emotion. his eyes betrayed a nervousness that could almost be interpreted as fear.
He was charged with conspiring in Dundalk with another person not before the court to cause an explosion likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property. And with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA. otherwise known as Oglaigh na hEireann.
Murphy did not reply to the charges.
Turning to take his seat, he looked around at the press benches, the gardai and barristers and up to the public gallery, making the briefest of eye contact with some.
As he turned to walk back down the steep narrow steps leading from the dock, again he kept his eyes fixed ahead as the light caught a gold signet-type ring on his wedding linger.
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/169
Published Date: 25-Feb-99
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