TC/1442

Date fixed for Omagh bomb accused's trial

A DATE has been settled early next year for the trial of a Northern Ireland man accused of plotting the Omagh bomb.
The special criminal court in Dublin this week fixed January 16, 2001, for the trial of Colm Murphy, 47, a building contractor and publican from Co Armagh with an address at Jordan's Corner, Ravensdale, Co Louth.
Murphy is charged with 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.
He is also charged with membership of an illegal organisation calling itself Oglaigh na hEireann, on August 14, 1998.
Hundreds were injured and 29 killed in the Market Street bomb attack of August 15, 1998.
The Real IRA claimed responsibility for the atrocity, which also claimed the lives of two unborn children.
Assistant state solicitor, Mr Gearoid Ryall said the trial was expected to last three weeks.
Earlier this month, the court refused to grant legal aid to Murphy, who is on bail of IR£50,000.
The court heard that Murphy owned land outside Drogheda and Dundalk and jointly owned a pub in Dundalk as well as a building contracting firm.
Murphy told the court he believed he would never work again. He had won no new contracts since he was charged.