ACCUSED HAD SUSPECTED BOMB-MAKING PARTS AT HOME
Accused 'had suspected bomb-making parts at home'
By Brian Hutton PA
ONE OF the men accused of the Omagh bomb gave selective explanations for suspected explosive materials found at his home, a court heard yesterday.
Liam Campbell also denied a diary and mobile phone recovered in the raid belonged to him, a detective said.
The convicted terrorist and four other men are being sued by six families who believe they were responsible for the blast which killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, and injured hundreds more.
Detective Garda Anthony Hearty said Campbell adopted a "no response and no reply" attitude to interrogation and gave selective explanations to some of the exhibits recovered from his home which were shown to him under questioning.
The investigating officer said Campbell first denied any knowledge of tubing - similar to that used by the Real IRA (RIRA) for improvised bombs - found at his home but later claimed he got it at a scrapyard to be used for petrol and diesel.
The accused said he bought the disposable face masks in Jonesboro, Co Armagh just days before his arrest to be used for weeding his garden, according to the detective.
Asked about walkie talkies and a CB radio he made no reply but when pressed about insulating tape, similar to that used for improvised bombs, he denied ownership.
"His reply was 'That tape is not mine'," Mr Hearty told the hearing, sitting at the District Court in Dublin.
Alleged RIRA leader Michael McKevitt, Campbell, said to be his number two, Colm Murphy, Seamus McKenna and Seamus Daly all deny any involvement in the massacre in the Co Tyrone town on a busy Saturday afternoon in August 1998.
Mr Hearty told the groundbreaking civil case that tubing, tape, a CB radio, walkie talkies, disposable face masks and gloves were recovered during the search of Campbell's home at Upper Faughart, Dundalk in March 2000.
The co-defendant was arrested at the scene under the Republic's Offences against the State Act and questioned about being a RIRA member.
"He was offered the opportunity to deny he was a member of the IRA and made no reply to that," Mr Hearty said.
Campbell - the only defendant not legally represented at the unprecedented case - was jailed for eight years in 2004 on two counts of RIRA membership.
The case has already heard that a secret underground room was found at his house during the Garda search in 2000.
The court action is the first time the victims of terrorism are confronting the alleged perpetrators and the first time evidence from a Northern Ireland case has been heard in the Republic. Garda testimonies are being heard by Judge Conal Gibbons in the presence of Mr Justice Declan Morgan, who has presided over the case in Belfast Crown Court but has no judicial powers in Dublin.
By Brian Hutton PA
ONE OF the men accused of the Omagh bomb gave selective explanations for suspected explosive materials found at his home, a court heard yesterday.
Liam Campbell also denied a diary and mobile phone recovered in the raid belonged to him, a detective said.
The convicted terrorist and four other men are being sued by six families who believe they were responsible for the blast which killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, and injured hundreds more.
Detective Garda Anthony Hearty said Campbell adopted a "no response and no reply" attitude to interrogation and gave selective explanations to some of the exhibits recovered from his home which were shown to him under questioning.
The investigating officer said Campbell first denied any knowledge of tubing - similar to that used by the Real IRA (RIRA) for improvised bombs - found at his home but later claimed he got it at a scrapyard to be used for petrol and diesel.
The accused said he bought the disposable face masks in Jonesboro, Co Armagh just days before his arrest to be used for weeding his garden, according to the detective.
Asked about walkie talkies and a CB radio he made no reply but when pressed about insulating tape, similar to that used for improvised bombs, he denied ownership.
"His reply was 'That tape is not mine'," Mr Hearty told the hearing, sitting at the District Court in Dublin.
Alleged RIRA leader Michael McKevitt, Campbell, said to be his number two, Colm Murphy, Seamus McKenna and Seamus Daly all deny any involvement in the massacre in the Co Tyrone town on a busy Saturday afternoon in August 1998.
Mr Hearty told the groundbreaking civil case that tubing, tape, a CB radio, walkie talkies, disposable face masks and gloves were recovered during the search of Campbell's home at Upper Faughart, Dundalk in March 2000.
The co-defendant was arrested at the scene under the Republic's Offences against the State Act and questioned about being a RIRA member.
"He was offered the opportunity to deny he was a member of the IRA and made no reply to that," Mr Hearty said.
Campbell - the only defendant not legally represented at the unprecedented case - was jailed for eight years in 2004 on two counts of RIRA membership.
The case has already heard that a secret underground room was found at his house during the Garda search in 2000.
The court action is the first time the victims of terrorism are confronting the alleged perpetrators and the first time evidence from a Northern Ireland case has been heard in the Republic. Garda testimonies are being heard by Judge Conal Gibbons in the presence of Mr Justice Declan Morgan, who has presided over the case in Belfast Crown Court but has no judicial powers in Dublin.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0940
Published Date: 30-May-08
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