POLICE CONTINUE TO QUIZ MAN OVER OMAGH BOMB
Police continue to quiz man over Omagh bomb
By Darran McCann
POLICE were still questioning a man last night in connection with the 1998 Omagh bomb. The 44-year-old, who is believed to come from the Moy area on the Tyrone/Armagh border, was arrested near Armagh city at around 10am yesterday. Police in Dungannon said he was being questioned about "serious terrorist crime linked to the 1998 Omagh bomb". It was unclear last night whether fresh DNA analysis had led to the arrest. Twenty-nine people, including a woman pregnant with twins, died and hundreds were injured when a car bomb exploded on a busy Saturday afternoon in the Co Tyrone town on August 15 1998.
The Real IRA attack was the worst single atrocity of the Troubles.
Only one person to date, Colm Murphy, has been jailed for having played a role in the bombing.
The Dundalk man was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin to 14 years in jail in January 2002.
Another man is facing charges of possession of explosives and other material including timers prior to the bombing.
Murphy and four others are also being sued for compensation by the Omagh Victims Civil Action Group.
One of the spokesmen of the bereaved Omagh families is Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan (20) was killed in the atrocity.
He welcomed the latest arrest as a positive sign in the search for justice.
"We knew there were arrests planned. This shows that the investigation is still live and ongoing and that's important," Mr Gallagher said.
Godfrey Wilson, whose daughter Lorraine (15) was killed in the blast, said he hoped progress was being made.
"I'm delighted to hear the police are still actively trying to collect the person or the people who have caused all our heartache," he said.
"Hopefully they have got some of the people involved and this is not another situation where someone is taken in and then let off shortly afterwards.
"I hope they have some helpful information. On the past track record when people have been lifted, I wouldn't be too confident of the whole thing."
By Darran McCann
POLICE were still questioning a man last night in connection with the 1998 Omagh bomb. The 44-year-old, who is believed to come from the Moy area on the Tyrone/Armagh border, was arrested near Armagh city at around 10am yesterday. Police in Dungannon said he was being questioned about "serious terrorist crime linked to the 1998 Omagh bomb". It was unclear last night whether fresh DNA analysis had led to the arrest. Twenty-nine people, including a woman pregnant with twins, died and hundreds were injured when a car bomb exploded on a busy Saturday afternoon in the Co Tyrone town on August 15 1998.
The Real IRA attack was the worst single atrocity of the Troubles.
Only one person to date, Colm Murphy, has been jailed for having played a role in the bombing.
The Dundalk man was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin to 14 years in jail in January 2002.
Another man is facing charges of possession of explosives and other material including timers prior to the bombing.
Murphy and four others are also being sued for compensation by the Omagh Victims Civil Action Group.
One of the spokesmen of the bereaved Omagh families is Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan (20) was killed in the atrocity.
He welcomed the latest arrest as a positive sign in the search for justice.
"We knew there were arrests planned. This shows that the investigation is still live and ongoing and that's important," Mr Gallagher said.
Godfrey Wilson, whose daughter Lorraine (15) was killed in the blast, said he hoped progress was being made.
"I'm delighted to hear the police are still actively trying to collect the person or the people who have caused all our heartache," he said.
"Hopefully they have got some of the people involved and this is not another situation where someone is taken in and then let off shortly afterwards.
"I hope they have some helpful information. On the past track record when people have been lifted, I wouldn't be too confident of the whole thing."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0714
Published Date: 09-Dec-04
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