BEREAVED APPLAUD AS OMAGH BOMB SERVICE PROVIDER IS JAILED FOR 14 YEARS
Bereaved applaud as Omagh bomb 'service provider' is jailed for 14 years
THE jailing on Friday at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin of publican and contractor Colm Murphy, for the part he played in the bombing of Omagh, has prompted a review of police strategy to target the five-man cell believed to be directly culpable for the atrocity.
Murphy, who was given a 14-year jail term, has a previous record for terrorist-related offences. He returned to Ireland in 1985 from America where he was involved in arms offences and being an illegal alien, and was described by presiding judge, Mr. Justice Robert Barr, as a "service provider" for those who carried out the bombing.
Murphy, Co. Armagh-born, but with an address at Ravensdale, Co. Louth, was convicted earlier last week of conspiracy to cause the Real IRA explosion in Omagh which killed 29 and injured hundreds more.
Murphy was jailed by the Special Criminal Court in 1972 for two years in connection with firearms offences, and was subsequently jailed for three years in June 1976 for firearms offences and being a member of the IRA. On July 15, 1983, he was jailed for five years and fined $10,000 by the Eastern District Court in New York for possession of 20 automatic weapons and being an illegal alien. He was released two years later.
It has been revealed that senior officers from the Garda and the Police Service of Northern Ireland will now review their strategy in the wake of the conviction, and their main focus will be on the cell which operated from the Real IRA's power base in the north Louth and south Armagh areas.
As Murphy who consistently denied the charge through his legal representatives was led away to begin his jail sentence, relatives of those killed in the bombing, spontaneously applauded in court for a few seconds. Murphy is the only person so far to be convicted of having played a part in the bombing three years ago.
The three-judge panel hearing the trial convicted Murphy on Tuesday of last week. It is understood that officers believe around a dozen people were involved in the bombing operation, including a group of criminals from Dundalk who provided the stolen car used as a mobile bomb although they did not know at the time that the vehicle was intended for a bombing.
A number of suspects have already been arrested by Gardai about the car theft and a file is currently being studied by the DPP, who will decide if criminal charges are to be brought.
It has also been revealed that Gardai are now following a number of new lines of enquiry that may result in criminal charges against some of the main suspects, although it has been said that the prospects of a direct link to the blast remain 'daunting'.
Since the bombing Gardai have charged a total of 42 Real IRA suspects and another 19 Continuity IRA suspects with a variety of terrorist-related offences.
It has been claimed that Murphy was a member of the Continuity IRA at the time of the atrocity, and it is known that there was close co-operation between the two dissident groups, and the INLA, at the time and in the six months prior to Omagh when a number of cross-border attacks took place.
Sentencing Murphy, Mr. Justice Barr said the court had an important duty to make it abundantly clear to other extremists that such criminal activity would be treated with the utmost severity and stressed that long sentences "may be expected".
He noted that Murphy was a long-time republican extremist and a member of a dissident group opposed to the peace process in Northern Ireland.
Following sentencing, senior Gardai said they were satisfied with the jail term imposed, and pointed out that Murphy would not be released for at least 10 years.
The court refused leave to appeal, but Murphy's defence team said later that they would take their case to the Court of Criminal Appeal.
No emotion
As he was taken away to begin his sentence, Murphy, who showed no emotion as sentence was handed down, turned and waved to members of his family.
Mr. Stanley McCombe, who was one of the 16 bereaved or injured to travel to Dublin for the verdict, said the conviction and sentence were "a start".
"Like everybody else, we are pleased. I am not going to say I am delighted - it's the wrong word. I am pleased he got 14 years, but in saying that I will be even more pleased when everybody involved gets what's coming to them," he said.
"If those responsible for planting the bomb come before the court I cannot see them getting off with 14 years they will get the maximum. This is a step in the right direction," he said.
Asked what the atmosphere in the courtroom at the Dublin Criminal Court was like on Friday, Mr. McCombe said the feeling was tense.
"It was tense, but you had that feeling you were being reassured by people within the Court Service and the Garda that he was going to do time".
"Murphy was standing facing the judge. He was between two officers and he was a worried man. He is one of the biggest businessmen in Dundalk, and he is now facing upwards of 10 years away from his business," Mr. McCombe said.
Mr. McCombe continued: "We are relieved with the judgment. This is the first part of the puzzle that's what I call it anyway. You are just hoping that everything will all work out.
"So far it has taken three-and-a-half years to get this far. We have served our sentences, but there are people out there who are guilty and they have their sentence in front of them when they are caught," he said.
Mr. Michael Gallagher, whose son was killed in the explosion, said his reaction was one of relief.
He added: "I hope this is the beginning of the end for the families. But it was obvious from the court case that there was quite a lot of other people involved in the crime and the pressure is now on to bring these people before the courts."
THE jailing on Friday at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin of publican and contractor Colm Murphy, for the part he played in the bombing of Omagh, has prompted a review of police strategy to target the five-man cell believed to be directly culpable for the atrocity.
Murphy, who was given a 14-year jail term, has a previous record for terrorist-related offences. He returned to Ireland in 1985 from America where he was involved in arms offences and being an illegal alien, and was described by presiding judge, Mr. Justice Robert Barr, as a "service provider" for those who carried out the bombing.
Murphy, Co. Armagh-born, but with an address at Ravensdale, Co. Louth, was convicted earlier last week of conspiracy to cause the Real IRA explosion in Omagh which killed 29 and injured hundreds more.
Murphy was jailed by the Special Criminal Court in 1972 for two years in connection with firearms offences, and was subsequently jailed for three years in June 1976 for firearms offences and being a member of the IRA. On July 15, 1983, he was jailed for five years and fined $10,000 by the Eastern District Court in New York for possession of 20 automatic weapons and being an illegal alien. He was released two years later.
It has been revealed that senior officers from the Garda and the Police Service of Northern Ireland will now review their strategy in the wake of the conviction, and their main focus will be on the cell which operated from the Real IRA's power base in the north Louth and south Armagh areas.
As Murphy who consistently denied the charge through his legal representatives was led away to begin his jail sentence, relatives of those killed in the bombing, spontaneously applauded in court for a few seconds. Murphy is the only person so far to be convicted of having played a part in the bombing three years ago.
The three-judge panel hearing the trial convicted Murphy on Tuesday of last week. It is understood that officers believe around a dozen people were involved in the bombing operation, including a group of criminals from Dundalk who provided the stolen car used as a mobile bomb although they did not know at the time that the vehicle was intended for a bombing.
A number of suspects have already been arrested by Gardai about the car theft and a file is currently being studied by the DPP, who will decide if criminal charges are to be brought.
It has also been revealed that Gardai are now following a number of new lines of enquiry that may result in criminal charges against some of the main suspects, although it has been said that the prospects of a direct link to the blast remain 'daunting'.
Since the bombing Gardai have charged a total of 42 Real IRA suspects and another 19 Continuity IRA suspects with a variety of terrorist-related offences.
It has been claimed that Murphy was a member of the Continuity IRA at the time of the atrocity, and it is known that there was close co-operation between the two dissident groups, and the INLA, at the time and in the six months prior to Omagh when a number of cross-border attacks took place.
Sentencing Murphy, Mr. Justice Barr said the court had an important duty to make it abundantly clear to other extremists that such criminal activity would be treated with the utmost severity and stressed that long sentences "may be expected".
He noted that Murphy was a long-time republican extremist and a member of a dissident group opposed to the peace process in Northern Ireland.
Following sentencing, senior Gardai said they were satisfied with the jail term imposed, and pointed out that Murphy would not be released for at least 10 years.
The court refused leave to appeal, but Murphy's defence team said later that they would take their case to the Court of Criminal Appeal.
No emotion
As he was taken away to begin his sentence, Murphy, who showed no emotion as sentence was handed down, turned and waved to members of his family.
Mr. Stanley McCombe, who was one of the 16 bereaved or injured to travel to Dublin for the verdict, said the conviction and sentence were "a start".
"Like everybody else, we are pleased. I am not going to say I am delighted - it's the wrong word. I am pleased he got 14 years, but in saying that I will be even more pleased when everybody involved gets what's coming to them," he said.
"If those responsible for planting the bomb come before the court I cannot see them getting off with 14 years they will get the maximum. This is a step in the right direction," he said.
Asked what the atmosphere in the courtroom at the Dublin Criminal Court was like on Friday, Mr. McCombe said the feeling was tense.
"It was tense, but you had that feeling you were being reassured by people within the Court Service and the Garda that he was going to do time".
"Murphy was standing facing the judge. He was between two officers and he was a worried man. He is one of the biggest businessmen in Dundalk, and he is now facing upwards of 10 years away from his business," Mr. McCombe said.
Mr. McCombe continued: "We are relieved with the judgment. This is the first part of the puzzle that's what I call it anyway. You are just hoping that everything will all work out.
"So far it has taken three-and-a-half years to get this far. We have served our sentences, but there are people out there who are guilty and they have their sentence in front of them when they are caught," he said.
Mr. Michael Gallagher, whose son was killed in the explosion, said his reaction was one of relief.
He added: "I hope this is the beginning of the end for the families. But it was obvious from the court case that there was quite a lot of other people involved in the crime and the pressure is now on to bring these people before the courts."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1002
Published Date: 31-Jan-02
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