VERDICT EXPECTED ON FRIDAY IN DUBLIN TRIAL OF OMAGH BOMB ACCUSED
Verdict expected on Friday in Dublin trial of Omagh bomb accused
THE Dublin based trial of the Co. Armagh publican charged with conspiracy to cause the Omagh bombing resumed on Friday last week, and the three judges involved are expected to give their verdict tomorrow (Friday).
On Monday at the Special Criminal Court counsel for Colm Murphy, the only person to date charged with involvement in the Omagh bombing, gave their final submissions.
The 25-day trial, which had adjourned for almost two months over November and December, resumed on Friday last when a key prosecution witness retracted his evidence.
In a dramatic turnaround, witness Patrick Terence Morgan, from Cullyhanna, Co. Armagh, told the Special Criminal Court that he had been put under pressure by the Gardai to say he had lent his mobile phone to Murphy the day before the attack on Omagh.
Back in November, Mr. Morgan told the court he had lent his mobile phone to the accused on August 14, and that it had been returned to him on the Monday or Tuesday following the bombing.
During the trial the prosecution alleged that Murphy had lent his own phone and Morgan's to the dissident republican group, the Real IRA, who carried out the bombing - which has since been labelled the worst bombing of the Province's troubles in the past 30 years.
The trial resumed on Friday after nearly two months in adjournment due to the illness of one of the three judges.
On Friday Morgan was recalled to the witness box, and was treated as a 'hostile witness' by the prosecution following an application by Mr. Peter Charleton, SC.
Morgan, who had told the court that he was the second cousin of Murphy, said he had gone to a solicitor in Newry on Monday last, and said that statements he made to the RUC were improperly obtained.
He added: "I can't sleep because I did not tell the truth."
Retraction
During his retraction, Morgan said he was put under pressure by the Gardai, who, he claimed, wanted him to give evidence against Murphy, and he also claimed that officers threatened that he would be 'lifted'.
"I can't sleep. I can't live with myself after this act saying I gave the phone to him," he said.
He went on to say he went to his solicitor because he wanted it off his conscience. Asked by Mr. Charleton what he was in court to say, Morgan replied: "I'm here to say I did not give him the phone".
Asked by the prosecution if he was under pressure, Morgan responded that he was not under pressure to change his evidence.
The trial was adjourned in November last year after one of the three judges hearing the evidence, Judge Mary O'Halloran, became ill.
Father of four, Colm Murphy, who is a building contractor as well as a publican, from Co. Armagh, but with another address at Jordan's Corner, Ravensdale, Co. Louth, has pleaded not guilty to conspiring in Dundalk with another person not before the court to cause an explosion in the State or elsewhere, between August 13 and 16, 1998.
Earlier in the case against Murphy, prosecuting counsel alleged that Murphy lent his mobile telephone, and obtained another one from an innocent party, which were lent to those who carried out the Omagh bombing.
Gardai had told the court that Murphy had admitted in interviews that he had lent his phone to known republicans, knowing it would be used for moving bombs.
At the end of submissions on Monday, Mr. Justice Robert Barr, presiding at the court of three judges sitting without a jury, said that the court would "hopefully" be in a position to give its verdict tomorrow.
In the meantime, Murphy has been remanded on continuing bail.
Earlier in the hearing, Murphy's counsel submitted that there was "a credibility problem" with interviews conducted by the gardai and the accused.
Counsel said that when the three judges retired to consider the evidence and formulate their verdict they had to be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that there was no "jiggery pokery".
The court has already ruled that two gardai were guilty of "patent falsification" of interviews.
THE Dublin based trial of the Co. Armagh publican charged with conspiracy to cause the Omagh bombing resumed on Friday last week, and the three judges involved are expected to give their verdict tomorrow (Friday).
On Monday at the Special Criminal Court counsel for Colm Murphy, the only person to date charged with involvement in the Omagh bombing, gave their final submissions.
The 25-day trial, which had adjourned for almost two months over November and December, resumed on Friday last when a key prosecution witness retracted his evidence.
In a dramatic turnaround, witness Patrick Terence Morgan, from Cullyhanna, Co. Armagh, told the Special Criminal Court that he had been put under pressure by the Gardai to say he had lent his mobile phone to Murphy the day before the attack on Omagh.
Back in November, Mr. Morgan told the court he had lent his mobile phone to the accused on August 14, and that it had been returned to him on the Monday or Tuesday following the bombing.
During the trial the prosecution alleged that Murphy had lent his own phone and Morgan's to the dissident republican group, the Real IRA, who carried out the bombing - which has since been labelled the worst bombing of the Province's troubles in the past 30 years.
The trial resumed on Friday after nearly two months in adjournment due to the illness of one of the three judges.
On Friday Morgan was recalled to the witness box, and was treated as a 'hostile witness' by the prosecution following an application by Mr. Peter Charleton, SC.
Morgan, who had told the court that he was the second cousin of Murphy, said he had gone to a solicitor in Newry on Monday last, and said that statements he made to the RUC were improperly obtained.
He added: "I can't sleep because I did not tell the truth."
Retraction
During his retraction, Morgan said he was put under pressure by the Gardai, who, he claimed, wanted him to give evidence against Murphy, and he also claimed that officers threatened that he would be 'lifted'.
"I can't sleep. I can't live with myself after this act saying I gave the phone to him," he said.
He went on to say he went to his solicitor because he wanted it off his conscience. Asked by Mr. Charleton what he was in court to say, Morgan replied: "I'm here to say I did not give him the phone".
Asked by the prosecution if he was under pressure, Morgan responded that he was not under pressure to change his evidence.
The trial was adjourned in November last year after one of the three judges hearing the evidence, Judge Mary O'Halloran, became ill.
Father of four, Colm Murphy, who is a building contractor as well as a publican, from Co. Armagh, but with another address at Jordan's Corner, Ravensdale, Co. Louth, has pleaded not guilty to conspiring in Dundalk with another person not before the court to cause an explosion in the State or elsewhere, between August 13 and 16, 1998.
Earlier in the case against Murphy, prosecuting counsel alleged that Murphy lent his mobile telephone, and obtained another one from an innocent party, which were lent to those who carried out the Omagh bombing.
Gardai had told the court that Murphy had admitted in interviews that he had lent his phone to known republicans, knowing it would be used for moving bombs.
At the end of submissions on Monday, Mr. Justice Robert Barr, presiding at the court of three judges sitting without a jury, said that the court would "hopefully" be in a position to give its verdict tomorrow.
In the meantime, Murphy has been remanded on continuing bail.
Earlier in the hearing, Murphy's counsel submitted that there was "a credibility problem" with interviews conducted by the gardai and the accused.
Counsel said that when the three judges retired to consider the evidence and formulate their verdict they had to be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that there was no "jiggery pokery".
The court has already ruled that two gardai were guilty of "patent falsification" of interviews.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0993
Published Date: 17-Jan-02
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