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Freedom soon for 'Omagh' convict

THE man whose conviction in connection with the Omagh bombing was quashed last week is set to be freed this weekend, it emerged yesterday.
Colm Murphy, 52, from appeared yesterday at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin to comply with his bail conditions. His lawyers said there was one slight complication.
Junior counsel Richard Humphreys said one of the two independent sureties of euro 25,000 (£17,300) would be provided by Murphy's sister, Kathleen Tully, who is residing outside the jurisdiction in Co Armagh.
Mr Justice Diarmuid O'Donovan, presiding, said Murphy would have to go back to the Court of Criminal Appeal to vary the order.
The second independent surety of euro 25,000 is to be provided by Murphy's daughter Leonara, from Ravensdale. She told the court she was aware that 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 the euro 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 bomb.
Murphy, flanked by several Garda officers, sat quietly in court during the bail hearing. He will appear tomorrow in the Court of Criminal Appeal, which will be able to vary the order in relation to Ms Tully's independent surety.
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 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.