REACTION TO THE VERDICT
Reaction to the verdict
MICHAEL Gallagher, whose son Aidan was among the 29 people killed at Omagh, yesterday said that the authorities should bring the rest of the Real IRA gang to justice.
"The court has sent a very strong message to the people who came here and who affected the lives of 600 families - you will not be allowed to get away with it," he said.
"But there were other people involved and it's important that they are brought to justice as well."
Some of the relatives have already started a high court action seeking compensation against five men whom they claimed were involved in the atrocity.
Mr Gallagher added: "All that the people of Omagh want is justice."
Laurence Rush, whose wife Libbi died in the blast, said: "I have now gone into a softer sadness away from the anger.
"I feel that a crack has opened and I do not think that we will have to wait too long before we see justice done.
"I genuinely believe the Real IRA is now in disarray - there's plenty of evidence linking them, and many individuals, to Omagh."
Kevin Skelton, whose wife Mena was killed in the bombing, said that relatives could not move on while all the perpetrators remained at large.
Mrs Skelton died as her three teenage daughters tried on school uniforms in a shop just yards from where the car bomb went off.
Mr Skelton from the village of Drumquin, Co Tyrone, and who was in a neighbouring store at the time, said: "This is the start of a long journey, but until such times as all the people responsible are behind bars, I don't think our lives will move on. We try to move on, but I want justice for my wife, my children and all the people who died."
Garda assistant commissioner Kevin Carty, who headed the investigation in the Republic, said the verdict represented a significant milestone in the Omagh investigation. He paid tribute to the families of the dead, saying: "We are acutely aware of the suffering and the pain that these people are enduring and all I can say is we hope that the events here this evening might go some way in assisting with the healing process. "The commitment and resolve of the Garda Siochana and the PSNI to attempt to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice is as strong now as it was on August 15 1998." Contrary to criticism the investigation was still very much active and alive, he said.
Mr Carty said that the conduct of officers were criticised in court for fabricating evidence against Murphy would be addressed.
He said: "This will be looked at by our commissioner who will take the appropriate action."
Meanwhile Murphy's sister, Angela Riley, described the verdict as "a joke". Another family member added: "The case should been thrown out a longtime ago. This is a political decision."
Eric Anderson, who headed the RUC's On investigation, said: "I am delighted for the relatives. It is a great result for them, particularly at the present time and it is a great result for the Garda. They achieved conviction with help from the RUC."
Secretary of State John Reid said the verdict was "a small step towards getting justice".
MICHAEL Gallagher, whose son Aidan was among the 29 people killed at Omagh, yesterday said that the authorities should bring the rest of the Real IRA gang to justice.
"The court has sent a very strong message to the people who came here and who affected the lives of 600 families - you will not be allowed to get away with it," he said.
"But there were other people involved and it's important that they are brought to justice as well."
Some of the relatives have already started a high court action seeking compensation against five men whom they claimed were involved in the atrocity.
Mr Gallagher added: "All that the people of Omagh want is justice."
Laurence Rush, whose wife Libbi died in the blast, said: "I have now gone into a softer sadness away from the anger.
"I feel that a crack has opened and I do not think that we will have to wait too long before we see justice done.
"I genuinely believe the Real IRA is now in disarray - there's plenty of evidence linking them, and many individuals, to Omagh."
Kevin Skelton, whose wife Mena was killed in the bombing, said that relatives could not move on while all the perpetrators remained at large.
Mrs Skelton died as her three teenage daughters tried on school uniforms in a shop just yards from where the car bomb went off.
Mr Skelton from the village of Drumquin, Co Tyrone, and who was in a neighbouring store at the time, said: "This is the start of a long journey, but until such times as all the people responsible are behind bars, I don't think our lives will move on. We try to move on, but I want justice for my wife, my children and all the people who died."
Garda assistant commissioner Kevin Carty, who headed the investigation in the Republic, said the verdict represented a significant milestone in the Omagh investigation. He paid tribute to the families of the dead, saying: "We are acutely aware of the suffering and the pain that these people are enduring and all I can say is we hope that the events here this evening might go some way in assisting with the healing process. "The commitment and resolve of the Garda Siochana and the PSNI to attempt to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice is as strong now as it was on August 15 1998." Contrary to criticism the investigation was still very much active and alive, he said.
Mr Carty said that the conduct of officers were criticised in court for fabricating evidence against Murphy would be addressed.
He said: "This will be looked at by our commissioner who will take the appropriate action."
Meanwhile Murphy's sister, Angela Riley, described the verdict as "a joke". Another family member added: "The case should been thrown out a longtime ago. This is a political decision."
Eric Anderson, who headed the RUC's On investigation, said: "I am delighted for the relatives. It is a great result for them, particularly at the present time and it is a great result for the Garda. They achieved conviction with help from the RUC."
Secretary of State John Reid said the verdict was "a small step towards getting justice".
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0519
Published Date: 23-Jan-02
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