BOMBER'S AGONY
BOMBER'S AGONY
EXCLUSIVE by JOANNE McELGUNN and JILLIE BEATTIE
Omagh terrorist has 'heart attack' in prison
THE only person jailed in connection with the Omagh bomb suffered a suspected heart attack in jail yesterday.
Colm Murphy - a fanatical Real IRA man - was taken to hospital after collapsing in maximum security Portlaoise Prison. Murphy, 51, who was jailed in January 2002 for his part in the blast which killed 29 people and unborn twins, was treated in intensive care at Portloaise General Hospital.
He was rushed there at lunchtime amid tight security.
A source said: "There was massive gardai and army security around the hospital to ensure that no one tried to spring Murphy.
"Security was watertight. It has to be when you are dealing with this calibre of prisoner."
Murphy collapsed on a prison landing at 12.45pm just after eating his lunch.
A source said: "He fell in a heap and some of his republican fellow prisoners rushed to his aid.
"It appears his condition was very serious, otherwise he wouldn't have been brought to hospital, as the prison has highly qualified medical staff."
Last night he was returned to his cell.
Murphy, from Ravensdale, Dundalk, Co Louth, was found guilty at Dublin's Special Criminal Court of conspiring to cause the 1998 bombing atrocity.
The dissident republican loaned two mobile phones to the bombers and their scouts.
The court ruled that he knew the phones would be used in the bombing.
Sentencing Murphy to 14 years, Justice Robert Barr said: "The accused is a long-time republican extremist and member of a dissident group opposed to the peace agreement of Northern Ireland."
Murphy, a millionaire publican and businessman, claimed he was innocent and said his conviction was a "miscarriage of justice".
However, the father-of-four was refused leave to appeal.
The Omagh bomb on August 15, 1998, also left more than 300 people injured.
As sentence on Murphy was passed, relatives of the dead stood up and applauded.
Murphy, who will serve at least 10 years, has also been served with a civil writ by the families of the bereaved.
They are taking a civil action for compensation because no one has yet been charged with the murders.
EXCLUSIVE by JOANNE McELGUNN and JILLIE BEATTIE
Omagh terrorist has 'heart attack' in prison
THE only person jailed in connection with the Omagh bomb suffered a suspected heart attack in jail yesterday.
Colm Murphy - a fanatical Real IRA man - was taken to hospital after collapsing in maximum security Portlaoise Prison. Murphy, 51, who was jailed in January 2002 for his part in the blast which killed 29 people and unborn twins, was treated in intensive care at Portloaise General Hospital.
He was rushed there at lunchtime amid tight security.
A source said: "There was massive gardai and army security around the hospital to ensure that no one tried to spring Murphy.
"Security was watertight. It has to be when you are dealing with this calibre of prisoner."
Murphy collapsed on a prison landing at 12.45pm just after eating his lunch.
A source said: "He fell in a heap and some of his republican fellow prisoners rushed to his aid.
"It appears his condition was very serious, otherwise he wouldn't have been brought to hospital, as the prison has highly qualified medical staff."
Last night he was returned to his cell.
Murphy, from Ravensdale, Dundalk, Co Louth, was found guilty at Dublin's Special Criminal Court of conspiring to cause the 1998 bombing atrocity.
The dissident republican loaned two mobile phones to the bombers and their scouts.
The court ruled that he knew the phones would be used in the bombing.
Sentencing Murphy to 14 years, Justice Robert Barr said: "The accused is a long-time republican extremist and member of a dissident group opposed to the peace agreement of Northern Ireland."
Murphy, a millionaire publican and businessman, claimed he was innocent and said his conviction was a "miscarriage of justice".
However, the father-of-four was refused leave to appeal.
The Omagh bomb on August 15, 1998, also left more than 300 people injured.
As sentence on Murphy was passed, relatives of the dead stood up and applauded.
Murphy, who will serve at least 10 years, has also been served with a civil writ by the families of the bereaved.
They are taking a civil action for compensation because no one has yet been charged with the murders.
Further Information
Publisher: THE MIRROR
Ref: TM/209
Published Date: 10-Apr-04
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