TELL POLICE WHAT YOU KNOW: GALLAGHER
Tell police what you know: Gallagher
THE father of one of the victims of the Omagh bomb said yesterday that if Colm Murphy truly condemns the 1998 atrocity he should also cooperate with the authorities, writes Allison Morris.
Campaigner Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Aidan in the bombing, said Murphy should take the opportunity to "clear his conscience". "If Colm Murphy is now condemning the Omagh bomb then he should also do the right thing and contact the Garda or the PSNI and give an account of information he has in relation to it," Mr Gallagher said.
Murphy was among four men found to be liable for the Omagh bombing, which claimed the lives of 29 people and unborn twins, following a landmark civil case taken by a number of the victims' families. The five dissident republicans are appealing the ruling with the case to be scheduled for later this year.
Murphy was alleged to have provided two mobile phones used by the Real IRA gang to transport the bomb to Omagh on August 15 1998. On January 22 2002 he was convicted of conspiracy to cause the bombing at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin and sentenced to 14 years in prison. Murphy's conviction was overturned on appeal in January 2005 after judges found that evidence given by gardai at his original trial was unreliable as they had rewritten interview notes. In February of this year he was found not guilty at retrial.
Also named in the civil action was Real IRA founder Michael McKevitt (59). He was jailed for 20 years in August 2003 on charges of Real IRA membership and directing terrorism. He is not expected to be released until 2016. Liam Campbell (46) was alleged to have been the Real IRA's 'director of operations' at the time of the Omagh bombing. In May 2004 he was convicted in the Republic of Real IRA membership and sentenced to eight years in prison. Seamus Daly (38), a scrap dealer from Cullaville, Co Monaghan, is alleged to have been the organiser of the Omagh bombing. He is alleged to have used a mobile phone belonging to Murphy to help transport the bomb.
On February 26 2004 Daly pleaded guilty to Real IRA membership at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin and was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. Seamus McKenna (53) is alleged to have been in possession of mobile phones used to transport the Omagh bomb. Originally from Silverbridge, Co Armagh, he was sentenced to six years imprisonment in 2004 for possession of explosives. When asked about Murphy's comments Mr Gallagher said: "He was cleared of involvement at retrial and we have to accept that but if he really thinks that it should never have happened he should also clear his own conscience, give the families the truth they deserve."
THE father of one of the victims of the Omagh bomb said yesterday that if Colm Murphy truly condemns the 1998 atrocity he should also cooperate with the authorities, writes Allison Morris.
Campaigner Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Aidan in the bombing, said Murphy should take the opportunity to "clear his conscience". "If Colm Murphy is now condemning the Omagh bomb then he should also do the right thing and contact the Garda or the PSNI and give an account of information he has in relation to it," Mr Gallagher said.
Murphy was among four men found to be liable for the Omagh bombing, which claimed the lives of 29 people and unborn twins, following a landmark civil case taken by a number of the victims' families. The five dissident republicans are appealing the ruling with the case to be scheduled for later this year.
Murphy was alleged to have provided two mobile phones used by the Real IRA gang to transport the bomb to Omagh on August 15 1998. On January 22 2002 he was convicted of conspiracy to cause the bombing at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin and sentenced to 14 years in prison. Murphy's conviction was overturned on appeal in January 2005 after judges found that evidence given by gardai at his original trial was unreliable as they had rewritten interview notes. In February of this year he was found not guilty at retrial.
Also named in the civil action was Real IRA founder Michael McKevitt (59). He was jailed for 20 years in August 2003 on charges of Real IRA membership and directing terrorism. He is not expected to be released until 2016. Liam Campbell (46) was alleged to have been the Real IRA's 'director of operations' at the time of the Omagh bombing. In May 2004 he was convicted in the Republic of Real IRA membership and sentenced to eight years in prison. Seamus Daly (38), a scrap dealer from Cullaville, Co Monaghan, is alleged to have been the organiser of the Omagh bombing. He is alleged to have used a mobile phone belonging to Murphy to help transport the bomb.
On February 26 2004 Daly pleaded guilty to Real IRA membership at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin and was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. Seamus McKenna (53) is alleged to have been in possession of mobile phones used to transport the Omagh bomb. Originally from Silverbridge, Co Armagh, he was sentenced to six years imprisonment in 2004 for possession of explosives. When asked about Murphy's comments Mr Gallagher said: "He was cleared of involvement at retrial and we have to accept that but if he really thinks that it should never have happened he should also clear his own conscience, give the families the truth they deserve."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/1032
Published Date: 01-Jun-10
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