FORMER ALLY OF OMAGH BOMB SUSPECT MUST GIVE EVIDENCE
Former ally of Omagh bomb suspect must give evidence
A FORMER associate of an Omagh bombing suspect has been ordered to give High Court evidence next month after seeking psychiatric treatment.
Even though the multi-million-pound civil trial of five men being sued over the atrocity has been told Terence Patrick Morgan is unfit to attend, arrangements were made yesterday to have him cross-examined in November.
Lawyers for three of the defendants want to question Mr Morgan over claims he made during police questioning following the August 1998 attack.
During those interviews it was alleged that he falsely signed in one of them, Seamus McKenna, as being at work on the day of the bombing.
The court has also heard further claims that Mr Morgan -who worked as a foreman for Colm Murphy, another of the men being sued - lent his mobile phone to his boss the day before the Real IRA attack.
Another allegation to emerge from police transcripts read out during the trial involved Mr Morgan saying he was teasingly accused by Seamus Daly, a third defendant in the civil action, of driving the car packed with explosives to the scene of the blast.
It was claimed Mr Daly drunkenly made the taunts in a bar on the night of the bombing.
Mr McKenna, Mr Daly and Mr Murphy - together with Michael McKevitt and Liam Campbell - all deny responsibility in the landmark case being brought by some victims' families.
Mr Morgan, who is said to have later retracted some of what he told police, was subpoenaed to appear at the hearing in Belfast this week.
But the court was told a doctor's letter had been received which disclosed he was seeking psychiatric assistance and was unfit to attend.
No details of the reasons for his alleged anxiety and depression or the length of his illness were given.
Although trial judge Mr Justice Mr Morgan emphasised care would be needed in dealing with someone with such conditions, he has directed that the witness should turn up later this month to establish whether he was able to give evidence.
The court fixed a date in November when it plans to take Mr Morgan's evidence.
A FORMER associate of an Omagh bombing suspect has been ordered to give High Court evidence next month after seeking psychiatric treatment.
Even though the multi-million-pound civil trial of five men being sued over the atrocity has been told Terence Patrick Morgan is unfit to attend, arrangements were made yesterday to have him cross-examined in November.
Lawyers for three of the defendants want to question Mr Morgan over claims he made during police questioning following the August 1998 attack.
During those interviews it was alleged that he falsely signed in one of them, Seamus McKenna, as being at work on the day of the bombing.
The court has also heard further claims that Mr Morgan -who worked as a foreman for Colm Murphy, another of the men being sued - lent his mobile phone to his boss the day before the Real IRA attack.
Another allegation to emerge from police transcripts read out during the trial involved Mr Morgan saying he was teasingly accused by Seamus Daly, a third defendant in the civil action, of driving the car packed with explosives to the scene of the blast.
It was claimed Mr Daly drunkenly made the taunts in a bar on the night of the bombing.
Mr McKenna, Mr Daly and Mr Murphy - together with Michael McKevitt and Liam Campbell - all deny responsibility in the landmark case being brought by some victims' families.
Mr Morgan, who is said to have later retracted some of what he told police, was subpoenaed to appear at the hearing in Belfast this week.
But the court was told a doctor's letter had been received which disclosed he was seeking psychiatric assistance and was unfit to attend.
No details of the reasons for his alleged anxiety and depression or the length of his illness were given.
Although trial judge Mr Justice Mr Morgan emphasised care would be needed in dealing with someone with such conditions, he has directed that the witness should turn up later this month to establish whether he was able to give evidence.
The court fixed a date in November when it plans to take Mr Morgan's evidence.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0976
Published Date: 23-Oct-08
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