THRE MEN QUIZZED OVER OMAGH BOMB
Three men quizzed over Omagh bomb
By Sharon O'Neill
THREE men were still being questioned last night in connection with the Omagh bombing as gardai seized a haul of weapons in Co Donegal.
The cache of arms linked to republican dissidents were discovered in a ditch close to the border but it is not known if the two operations were connected.
Security sources played down any significance in the fresh swoops over the Omagh bombing which comes on the back of the controversy over the RUC's handling of the murder investigation.
Twenty-nine people including a woman pregnant with twins were killed and hundreds injured, when a Real IRA bomb exploded in Omagh on August 15, 1998.
Last night the three Omagh bomb suspects were being questioned at Carrickmacross Garda station in Co Monaghan - the first arrests in the investigation in over a year.
Two men, aged 25 and 28, were arrested in the Inniskeen areas of Co Monaghan on Sunday and held under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
It was reported last night that one of the suspects was being detained on suspicion of possessing explosives and the other about alleged membership of the Real IRA.
The third man, in his 30s, was arrested yesterday in Co Louth and was believed to be being questioned over alleged possession of information relating to subversive activities in the months leading up to the blast.
Last night well placed sources insisted the trio were not any of the high-profile suspects believed to be behind the bombing.
"There has been no major breakthrough and no major breakthrough is due on this one. But the investigation is very much alive," said a Garda source.
Dissident republicans were being linked to an arms find near the village of Stranolar yesterday.
Two AK47 rifles, a pump-action shotgun, a machine gun, a rocket launcher and quantity of detonators were seized during the planned operation yesterday afternoon.
There were no arrests.
Seventy-five people have been arrested in connection with the Omagh bombing but released without charge.
Colm Murphy, from Dundalk, Co Louth is the only man to be jailed over the attack.
He was sentenced to 14 years in prison last month for conspiracy to cause the explosion.
By Sharon O'Neill
THREE men were still being questioned last night in connection with the Omagh bombing as gardai seized a haul of weapons in Co Donegal.
The cache of arms linked to republican dissidents were discovered in a ditch close to the border but it is not known if the two operations were connected.
Security sources played down any significance in the fresh swoops over the Omagh bombing which comes on the back of the controversy over the RUC's handling of the murder investigation.
Twenty-nine people including a woman pregnant with twins were killed and hundreds injured, when a Real IRA bomb exploded in Omagh on August 15, 1998.
Last night the three Omagh bomb suspects were being questioned at Carrickmacross Garda station in Co Monaghan - the first arrests in the investigation in over a year.
Two men, aged 25 and 28, were arrested in the Inniskeen areas of Co Monaghan on Sunday and held under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
It was reported last night that one of the suspects was being detained on suspicion of possessing explosives and the other about alleged membership of the Real IRA.
The third man, in his 30s, was arrested yesterday in Co Louth and was believed to be being questioned over alleged possession of information relating to subversive activities in the months leading up to the blast.
Last night well placed sources insisted the trio were not any of the high-profile suspects believed to be behind the bombing.
"There has been no major breakthrough and no major breakthrough is due on this one. But the investigation is very much alive," said a Garda source.
Dissident republicans were being linked to an arms find near the village of Stranolar yesterday.
Two AK47 rifles, a pump-action shotgun, a machine gun, a rocket launcher and quantity of detonators were seized during the planned operation yesterday afternoon.
There were no arrests.
Seventy-five people have been arrested in connection with the Omagh bombing but released without charge.
Colm Murphy, from Dundalk, Co Louth is the only man to be jailed over the attack.
He was sentenced to 14 years in prison last month for conspiracy to cause the explosion.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0550
Published Date: 26-Feb-02
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