IN/0725

Omagh bomb accused set for bail application

THE man whose conviction in connection with the Omagh bombing was quashed last week is to be freed this weekend pending a retrial.
Colm Murphy (52) from Ravensdale, Dundalk, Co Louth, appeared before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday to comply with his bail conditions but his lawyers said there was a slight complication.
Junior counsel Richard Humphreys said one of two independent sureties of £25,000 (£17,300) would be provided by Mr Murphy's sister, Kathleen Tully, who lives outside the Republic in Co Armagh.
Mr Justice Diarmuid O'Donovan, presiding, said Mr Murphy would have to go back to the Court of Criminal Appeal to vary the order.
The second independent surety of £25,000 is to be provided by Mr Murphy's daughter Leonara, from Ravensdale.
She told the court she was aware that Mr Murphy was obliged to comply with the conditions of his bail.
He must surrender his passport, sign on daily at Dundalk Garda Station and reside at a named address at Plaster, Mount Pleasant, Dundalk. Mr Justice O'Donovan approved of Ms Murphy as an independent surety.
Mr Humphreys said a £50,000 (£34,600) cash lodgement required by the bail conditions had been lodged by Kathleen Tully on behalf of Murphy because his financial circumstances had changed.
The Court of Criminal Appeal heard last week that the 52-year-old's construction business had ground to a halt after he was convicted in 2002 in connection with the Omagh bombing.
Mr Murphy, flanked by several gardai, sat quietly in court during the bail hearing. He will appear tomorrow before the Court of Criminal Appeal.
His lawyers have also said that they may be seeking an order for costs against the state, which refused to grant Murphy legal aid during his original trial.
Senior counsel Tom O'Connell asked the court to fix a date for Murphy's retrial.
He said two gardai were currently facing prosecution for giving perjured evidence during Murphy's trial.
"That prosecution will have to be disposed of before the retrial takes place," he said.
Mr Justice O'Donovan put the case in for mention in the Special Criminal Court on April 5.