I DIDN'T SUPPLY THE OMAGH BOMB CAR
I didn't supply the Omagh bomb car
Accused denies saying he provided vehicle for Real IRA
A MAN admitted providing the Real IRA with the car used in the Omagh bombing, it was alleged in court yesterday.
Anthony Joseph Donegan, a 34-year-old labourer from Afton Drive, Dundalk, Co Louth, was said to have told gardai he had stolen the maroon Vauxhall Cavalier car at Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, three days before the bombing.
Twenty-nine people and unborn twins died in the atrocity on August 15,1998.
In the High Court in Belfast yesterday, Crown lawyer David Hopley said Donegan's admission about stealing the car was made on June 21,1999, while in Garda custody.
"He said he had supplied the car to a dissident republican suspect, and analysis of his mobile phone at the time shows he made contact with a known dissident Omagh bomb suspect," said Mr Hopley.
"He also was in contact with a known dissident suspect shortly after the explosion was reported."
Defence barrister Peter Irvine said: "It seems surprising, if not incredulous, that that information would not have been provided to the PSNI, so at this stage one must be particularly circumspect about the nature and quality of the evidence against this applicant."
Donegan, who has denied supplying the car, applied for bail via video link with Maghaberry Prison, where he has been on remand since February 9.
Mr Hopley said that during interviews with the PSNI, Donegan had corroborated the Garda notes of the June, 1999 interview, apart from the admissions concerning the theft of the car.
Opposing bail, Mr Hopley said evidence had to be obtained from the Garda by way of an International Letter of Request and this would take some time.
He said Donegan had failed to appear in court on driving charges, and added: "He now faces a much more serious charge and there
must be a risk that he will abscond."
Mr Irvine said Donegan was denying ever making a verbal admission to gardai about stealing the car, and added: "It is extremely difficult to perceive in a case of such high profile that nothing appears to have been done about that information for a considerable period of time."
He said Donegan could reside with his former partner who lived in Belfast. Family and friends had raised 15,000 euro as a surety that he would not abscond.
Lord Justice Campbell said the Omagh bombing was a notorious terrorist event causing numerous deaths, and the charge was that Donegan supplied the car for a terrorist purpose.
"As we all know, this vehicle was so used," he said. "Taking all matters into consideration, including the offer of a cash surety, I am still not satisfied that on a charge as grave as this the applicant would turn up and therefore I refuse bail."
Accused denies saying he provided vehicle for Real IRA
A MAN admitted providing the Real IRA with the car used in the Omagh bombing, it was alleged in court yesterday.
Anthony Joseph Donegan, a 34-year-old labourer from Afton Drive, Dundalk, Co Louth, was said to have told gardai he had stolen the maroon Vauxhall Cavalier car at Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, three days before the bombing.
Twenty-nine people and unborn twins died in the atrocity on August 15,1998.
In the High Court in Belfast yesterday, Crown lawyer David Hopley said Donegan's admission about stealing the car was made on June 21,1999, while in Garda custody.
"He said he had supplied the car to a dissident republican suspect, and analysis of his mobile phone at the time shows he made contact with a known dissident Omagh bomb suspect," said Mr Hopley.
"He also was in contact with a known dissident suspect shortly after the explosion was reported."
Defence barrister Peter Irvine said: "It seems surprising, if not incredulous, that that information would not have been provided to the PSNI, so at this stage one must be particularly circumspect about the nature and quality of the evidence against this applicant."
Donegan, who has denied supplying the car, applied for bail via video link with Maghaberry Prison, where he has been on remand since February 9.
Mr Hopley said that during interviews with the PSNI, Donegan had corroborated the Garda notes of the June, 1999 interview, apart from the admissions concerning the theft of the car.
Opposing bail, Mr Hopley said evidence had to be obtained from the Garda by way of an International Letter of Request and this would take some time.
He said Donegan had failed to appear in court on driving charges, and added: "He now faces a much more serious charge and there
must be a risk that he will abscond."
Mr Irvine said Donegan was denying ever making a verbal admission to gardai about stealing the car, and added: "It is extremely difficult to perceive in a case of such high profile that nothing appears to have been done about that information for a considerable period of time."
He said Donegan could reside with his former partner who lived in Belfast. Family and friends had raised 15,000 euro as a surety that he would not abscond.
Lord Justice Campbell said the Omagh bombing was a notorious terrorist event causing numerous deaths, and the charge was that Donegan supplied the car for a terrorist purpose.
"As we all know, this vehicle was so used," he said. "Taking all matters into consideration, including the offer of a cash surety, I am still not satisfied that on a charge as grave as this the applicant would turn up and therefore I refuse bail."
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/598
Published Date: 05-Mar-05
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