OMAGH ACCUSED LINKED TO REPUBLICAN SINN FEIN
Omagh accused 'linked to Republican Sinn Fein'
A MAN accused of plotting the Omagh bomb in which 29 people died is believed by gardai to be linked to Republican Sinn Fein and its paramilitary wing the Continuity IRA, a court heard yesterday.
Another dissident republican group, the Real IRA, admitted responsibility for the Omagh bomb on August 15 last year which killed 29 and injured more than 200.
Yesterday the special criminal court in Dublin refused bail for Colm Murphy, the first person to be charged in connection with the bombing.
The court heard that Murphy made admissions to gardai over a three-day period about his part in the Omagh bomb plot.
Murphy (46), a married father-of-four and building contractor and publican, is a native of Co Armagh with an address at Jordan's Corner, Ravensdale, Co Louth.
He was charged last month 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 in the state or elsewhere between August 13 and 16 last year.
He is also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation on August 14 last year.
Opposing bail yesterday Superintendent Thomas Flannery said the conspiracy charge relates to the Omagh bomb. He said the charge carries a maximum of 20 years imprisonment.
When asked by state counsel Mr Tom O'Connell BL what faction of the IRA gardai believed Murphy belonged to, Supt O'Connell said:
"Republican Sinn Fein and its associated organisation, the Continuity Army Council."
Supt Flannery said Murphy was jailed for two years for firearms offences by the special criminal court in June 1972.
He escaped from the Curragh Military Prison in October 1972 and was recaptured in May 1973.
Murphy was jailed for three years by the special criminal court in June 1976 for firearms offences and one year for IRA membership.
Supt Flannery said Murphy was convicted on July 15 1983 in the United States for attempting to buy M60 machine-guns for the INLA and was jailed for five years. He was released in December 1985 and returned to Ireland.
Murphy's wife, Anne, told the court that he employed 28 people directly in his building business and that she was the licensee of the Emerald Bar in Dundalk.
Mr Justice Frederick Morris, said there was "very great reality" that Murphy would not attend his trial and bail was refused.
Murphy was remanded in custody until April 27.
A MAN accused of plotting the Omagh bomb in which 29 people died is believed by gardai to be linked to Republican Sinn Fein and its paramilitary wing the Continuity IRA, a court heard yesterday.
Another dissident republican group, the Real IRA, admitted responsibility for the Omagh bomb on August 15 last year which killed 29 and injured more than 200.
Yesterday the special criminal court in Dublin refused bail for Colm Murphy, the first person to be charged in connection with the bombing.
The court heard that Murphy made admissions to gardai over a three-day period about his part in the Omagh bomb plot.
Murphy (46), a married father-of-four and building contractor and publican, is a native of Co Armagh with an address at Jordan's Corner, Ravensdale, Co Louth.
He was charged last month 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 in the state or elsewhere between August 13 and 16 last year.
He is also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation on August 14 last year.
Opposing bail yesterday Superintendent Thomas Flannery said the conspiracy charge relates to the Omagh bomb. He said the charge carries a maximum of 20 years imprisonment.
When asked by state counsel Mr Tom O'Connell BL what faction of the IRA gardai believed Murphy belonged to, Supt O'Connell said:
"Republican Sinn Fein and its associated organisation, the Continuity Army Council."
Supt Flannery said Murphy was jailed for two years for firearms offences by the special criminal court in June 1972.
He escaped from the Curragh Military Prison in October 1972 and was recaptured in May 1973.
Murphy was jailed for three years by the special criminal court in June 1976 for firearms offences and one year for IRA membership.
Supt Flannery said Murphy was convicted on July 15 1983 in the United States for attempting to buy M60 machine-guns for the INLA and was jailed for five years. He was released in December 1985 and returned to Ireland.
Murphy's wife, Anne, told the court that he employed 28 people directly in his building business and that she was the licensee of the Emerald Bar in Dundalk.
Mr Justice Frederick Morris, said there was "very great reality" that Murphy would not attend his trial and bail was refused.
Murphy was remanded in custody until April 27.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0276
Published Date: 24-Mar-99
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