MURPHYS LIFE DEVOTED TO TERROR ON BOTH SIDES OF ATLANTIC
Murphy's life devoted to terror on both sides of Atlantic
By TIM BOYLE
HE BOUGHT GUNS FOR INLA
THE secret life of Omagh bomb plotter Colm Murphy was finally uncovered yesterday.
He is a lifelong terrorist and gun-runner who has served jail sentences on both sides of the Atlantic.
Since his early 20s, red-faced Murphy was involved in various factions of violent republicanism, including the Provisional IRA and the INLA.
When the Real IRA bomb tore through Omagh on February 15 1998, the wealthy builder and publican was immediately under suspicion. It was discovered he helped the bombers by lending them his own mobile phone and another he had borrowed from an unknowing employee.
Murphy, 49, is no stranger to Dublin's Special Criminal Court where he was convicted yesterday. It was there in 1972 he was sentenced to two years for firearms offences. Police questioning him about an assault discovered a loaded revolver in his car in Dundalk.
He was sent to Curragh military prison but was soon on the run after staging a breakout in October the same year. He was recaptured in May 1973, but after his release he again found himself before the high-ceiling wooden courtroom in Dublin in 1976.
He was jailed for three years for firearms offences and also sentenced to one year for membership of the IRA.
During the resulting spell in prison, Murphy's ambitions grew and on his release he headed to America on a gun-running mission for the INLA, a fanatical offshoot of the IRA.
But again he was caught, in July 1983, as he tried to buy M60 machine-guns for shipment back to Ireland.
He was sentenced to five years in a US jail, but was released early and returned to Ireland in December 1985.
It was between then and 1998 that Murphy, who comes from Belleek, Co Armagh, kept away from the courts.
He moved to Dundalk where he set up his home and a pub, the Emerald bar.
He built up a large building firm, at one point employing 28 people who worked on developments such as the International Financial Services Centre and Dublin City University.
The firm folded after his arrest.
He also bought 30 acres of land at Dublin Road in Drogheda, Co Louth, and showed his financial credentials when he was able to stump up IR�100,000 bail after being charged.
But his determination to use any means to satisfy his violent political aims never left him and he conspired with the Omagh bombers.
Strong police intelligence led officers to raid Murphy's home on February 21 1999. Intelligence has linked Murphy to the Army Council of the splinter group, the Continuity IRA.
By TIM BOYLE
HE BOUGHT GUNS FOR INLA
THE secret life of Omagh bomb plotter Colm Murphy was finally uncovered yesterday.
He is a lifelong terrorist and gun-runner who has served jail sentences on both sides of the Atlantic.
Since his early 20s, red-faced Murphy was involved in various factions of violent republicanism, including the Provisional IRA and the INLA.
When the Real IRA bomb tore through Omagh on February 15 1998, the wealthy builder and publican was immediately under suspicion. It was discovered he helped the bombers by lending them his own mobile phone and another he had borrowed from an unknowing employee.
Murphy, 49, is no stranger to Dublin's Special Criminal Court where he was convicted yesterday. It was there in 1972 he was sentenced to two years for firearms offences. Police questioning him about an assault discovered a loaded revolver in his car in Dundalk.
He was sent to Curragh military prison but was soon on the run after staging a breakout in October the same year. He was recaptured in May 1973, but after his release he again found himself before the high-ceiling wooden courtroom in Dublin in 1976.
He was jailed for three years for firearms offences and also sentenced to one year for membership of the IRA.
During the resulting spell in prison, Murphy's ambitions grew and on his release he headed to America on a gun-running mission for the INLA, a fanatical offshoot of the IRA.
But again he was caught, in July 1983, as he tried to buy M60 machine-guns for shipment back to Ireland.
He was sentenced to five years in a US jail, but was released early and returned to Ireland in December 1985.
It was between then and 1998 that Murphy, who comes from Belleek, Co Armagh, kept away from the courts.
He moved to Dundalk where he set up his home and a pub, the Emerald bar.
He built up a large building firm, at one point employing 28 people who worked on developments such as the International Financial Services Centre and Dublin City University.
The firm folded after his arrest.
He also bought 30 acres of land at Dublin Road in Drogheda, Co Louth, and showed his financial credentials when he was able to stump up IR�100,000 bail after being charged.
But his determination to use any means to satisfy his violent political aims never left him and he conspired with the Omagh bombers.
Strong police intelligence led officers to raid Murphy's home on February 21 1999. Intelligence has linked Murphy to the Army Council of the splinter group, the Continuity IRA.
Further Information
Publisher: THE MIRROR
Ref: TM/147
Published Date: 23-Jan-02
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