OMAGH BOMB SUSPECT APPEARS IN COURT
Real IRA Chief flees Ireland
By Michael O'Toole
Dublin Correspondent
and Diarmuid MacDermott
THE reputed leader of the Real IRA has fled to eastern Europe because of the intensity of the Garda probe into the Omagh atrocity, security sources said last night.
They told the Irish News that the leadership of the dissident organisation has been "severely rattled" by the spate of arrests by gardai and RUC detectives investigating the August 15 atrocity which left 29 people dead and more than 300 injured. It was later claimed by the Real IRA.
One source revealed that the man security forces believe is the leader of the Real IRA- and who is based in Co Louth - has fled Ireland since the spate of arrests began last Sunday.
He said: "Things are pretty hot for them at the minute and they're very rattled.
"(The reputed leader) has gone to eastern Europe and is keeping his head down."
Two men were still being held on each side of the border last night for questioning about the Omagh atrocity.
One of the two men held for questioning by RUC detectives in Derry was 32 County Sovereignty Movement chairman Francie Mackey.
He was arrested in the Tyrone and Fermanagh hospital where he works as a nurse on Monday morning.
The other man was arrested in south Armagh on Sunday. Each man can be held for a maximum of seven days.
In the Republic, detectives at Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan were still quizzing two men arrested on Monday, one of whom is from the Dundalk, Co Louth area, the other from Co Kilkenny. They have to be charged or released by this morning.
Meanwhile, a Northern Ireland man appeared at the special criminal court in Dublin yesterday on charges connected with the bombing.
Colm Murphy (48), with an address at Jordan's Coiner, Ravensdale, Co Louth, 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 in the state or elsewhere between August 13 and 16 last year.
Murphy, a married building contractor and native of Co Armagh, was also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army, otherwise known as Oglaigh na hEireann, on August 14 last year.
Detective Inspector Tadhg Foley of Monaghan garda station told the court that Murphy was arrested at 7.05am last Sunday at Ravensdale, Co Louth, and that his detention had been extended twice by 24 hours each.
Detective Inspector Foley said he released Murphy from the Section 30 arrest at 9.33pm on Tuesday night and arrested him under Section 4 of the Criminal Law Act of 1997 for conspiracy to cause explosion in the State or elsewhere.
Murphy had said he had "nothing to say" after he was cautioned.
Mr Justice Frederick Morris told Murphy's barrister Mr Cormac Quinn that he would have to give 48 hours' notice before making a bail application and the court remanded Murphy in custody until March 18.
Murphy is the first person to appear before a court in the Republic or Northern Ireland on charges connected with the bombing.
By Michael O'Toole
Dublin Correspondent
and Diarmuid MacDermott
THE reputed leader of the Real IRA has fled to eastern Europe because of the intensity of the Garda probe into the Omagh atrocity, security sources said last night.
They told the Irish News that the leadership of the dissident organisation has been "severely rattled" by the spate of arrests by gardai and RUC detectives investigating the August 15 atrocity which left 29 people dead and more than 300 injured. It was later claimed by the Real IRA.
One source revealed that the man security forces believe is the leader of the Real IRA- and who is based in Co Louth - has fled Ireland since the spate of arrests began last Sunday.
He said: "Things are pretty hot for them at the minute and they're very rattled.
"(The reputed leader) has gone to eastern Europe and is keeping his head down."
Two men were still being held on each side of the border last night for questioning about the Omagh atrocity.
One of the two men held for questioning by RUC detectives in Derry was 32 County Sovereignty Movement chairman Francie Mackey.
He was arrested in the Tyrone and Fermanagh hospital where he works as a nurse on Monday morning.
The other man was arrested in south Armagh on Sunday. Each man can be held for a maximum of seven days.
In the Republic, detectives at Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan were still quizzing two men arrested on Monday, one of whom is from the Dundalk, Co Louth area, the other from Co Kilkenny. They have to be charged or released by this morning.
Meanwhile, a Northern Ireland man appeared at the special criminal court in Dublin yesterday on charges connected with the bombing.
Colm Murphy (48), with an address at Jordan's Coiner, Ravensdale, Co Louth, 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 in the state or elsewhere between August 13 and 16 last year.
Murphy, a married building contractor and native of Co Armagh, was also charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army, otherwise known as Oglaigh na hEireann, on August 14 last year.
Detective Inspector Tadhg Foley of Monaghan garda station told the court that Murphy was arrested at 7.05am last Sunday at Ravensdale, Co Louth, and that his detention had been extended twice by 24 hours each.
Detective Inspector Foley said he released Murphy from the Section 30 arrest at 9.33pm on Tuesday night and arrested him under Section 4 of the Criminal Law Act of 1997 for conspiracy to cause explosion in the State or elsewhere.
Murphy had said he had "nothing to say" after he was cautioned.
Mr Justice Frederick Morris told Murphy's barrister Mr Cormac Quinn that he would have to give 48 hours' notice before making a bail application and the court remanded Murphy in custody until March 18.
Murphy is the first person to appear before a court in the Republic or Northern Ireland on charges connected with the bombing.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0500
Published Date: 25-Feb-99
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