MAN GRINNED AS HE LEFT OMAGH BOMB - WITNESS
Man grinned as he left Omagh bomb - witness
BY ALAN ERWIN AND IAN GRAHAM
ONE of the Omagh bombers grinned as the car carrying the huge device was parked at the scene, the High Court heard yesterday.
A woman who caught his eye before they left the busy town centre also claimed he looked calm and relaxed.
Ruth Buchannon described the two men who got out of the maroon Vauxhall Cavalier as looking like soldiers.
Her account of what she saw on August 15, 1998 was read out to the court in Belfast, where five dissident republicans are being sued by families of some of the 29 people killed in the blast.
The witness said she was parked on Market Street when the bomb vehicle pulled up in front of her, half a car length away.
She said the two men in the Cavalier got out quickly, making her think they were in a hurry.
They were both neat, with the one on the passenger side the more handsome.
Her statement, read by Brett Lockhart QC, for the families, said: "They were approximately six to eight feet away from me as they stood in front of my car.
"As the men stood on the footpath the passenger caught eye contact with myself and grinned at me. He looked calm and relaxed."
The driver, however, appeared to have a serious expression, the court heard.
Later Ms Buchannon said she left Omagh before the bomb exploded that afternoon.
Also on day three of the unprecedented action a bomb expert tied the Omagh bomb in with a series of other bombs in Northern Ireland, England and the Republic.
In total, 28 devices had identical timers with the same lengthy numeric code which tied them to a batch manufactured in the same French factory at the same time.
Using a detailed and complicated wall chart Denis McAuley - the lead scientist at Forensic Science Northern Ireland - explained to Mr Justice Morgan how the timers were identical.
Meanwhile, more than a dozen extra Irish police officers are to be called to give evidence at the Omagh bomb civil case, it was revealed yesterday.
Already 23 officers in the gardai are to be witnesses at the request of the legal team acting for six Omagh families against five men they believe responsible for the 1998 atrocity in which 29 people were slaughtered and hundreds more injured.
The case is due to move from the High Court in Belfast to the Supreme Court in Dublin to enable the Garda officers to give their evidence.
The families' lawyers, led by Lord Daniel Brennan QC, are now asking Mr Justice Morgan to arrange with the Irish authorities for up to 40 officers to be called.
The case is due to make its unprecedented move across the border on May 12 and is expected to be heard in Dublin for more than a week of the eight weeks it is set to take.
The families are seeking some �14 million in compensation from the Real IRA who claimed responsibility for the bombing and five men they say were the prime movers.
The civil action has been taken following the failure of the authorities in Northern Ireland to bring anyone to justice for the slaughter.
BY ALAN ERWIN AND IAN GRAHAM
ONE of the Omagh bombers grinned as the car carrying the huge device was parked at the scene, the High Court heard yesterday.
A woman who caught his eye before they left the busy town centre also claimed he looked calm and relaxed.
Ruth Buchannon described the two men who got out of the maroon Vauxhall Cavalier as looking like soldiers.
Her account of what she saw on August 15, 1998 was read out to the court in Belfast, where five dissident republicans are being sued by families of some of the 29 people killed in the blast.
The witness said she was parked on Market Street when the bomb vehicle pulled up in front of her, half a car length away.
She said the two men in the Cavalier got out quickly, making her think they were in a hurry.
They were both neat, with the one on the passenger side the more handsome.
Her statement, read by Brett Lockhart QC, for the families, said: "They were approximately six to eight feet away from me as they stood in front of my car.
"As the men stood on the footpath the passenger caught eye contact with myself and grinned at me. He looked calm and relaxed."
The driver, however, appeared to have a serious expression, the court heard.
Later Ms Buchannon said she left Omagh before the bomb exploded that afternoon.
Also on day three of the unprecedented action a bomb expert tied the Omagh bomb in with a series of other bombs in Northern Ireland, England and the Republic.
In total, 28 devices had identical timers with the same lengthy numeric code which tied them to a batch manufactured in the same French factory at the same time.
Using a detailed and complicated wall chart Denis McAuley - the lead scientist at Forensic Science Northern Ireland - explained to Mr Justice Morgan how the timers were identical.
Meanwhile, more than a dozen extra Irish police officers are to be called to give evidence at the Omagh bomb civil case, it was revealed yesterday.
Already 23 officers in the gardai are to be witnesses at the request of the legal team acting for six Omagh families against five men they believe responsible for the 1998 atrocity in which 29 people were slaughtered and hundreds more injured.
The case is due to move from the High Court in Belfast to the Supreme Court in Dublin to enable the Garda officers to give their evidence.
The families' lawyers, led by Lord Daniel Brennan QC, are now asking Mr Justice Morgan to arrange with the Irish authorities for up to 40 officers to be called.
The case is due to make its unprecedented move across the border on May 12 and is expected to be heard in Dublin for more than a week of the eight weeks it is set to take.
The families are seeking some �14 million in compensation from the Real IRA who claimed responsibility for the bombing and five men they say were the prime movers.
The civil action has been taken following the failure of the authorities in Northern Ireland to bring anyone to justice for the slaughter.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/747
Published Date: 10-Apr-08
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