ADMITTED STEALING CAR USED FOR OMAGH BOMB
Admitted stealing car used for Omagh bomb, court told
A MAN admitted providing the real IRA with the car used in the Omagh bombing, it was alleged during a bomb hearing in the High Court in Belfast on Friday.
Anthony Joseph Donegan, 34, a labourer from Afton Drive, Dundalk, Co. Louth, was said to have told gardai that he had stolen the car at Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, three days before the car bombing.
A total of 31 lives, including unborn twins, were lost in the August 15, 1998 blast. In the High Court on Friday Crown lawyer David Hopley said Mr Donegan's admission about stealing the car was made on June 21, 1999, while in gardai custody.
"He said he had supplied the car to a dissident republican suspect and analysis of his mobile phone at the time shows he made contact with a known dissident Omagh bomb suspect," said Mr Hopley. "He was also in contact with a known dissident suspect shortly after the explosion was reported."
Defence barrister Peter Irvine said, "It seems utterly suprising if not incredulous, that information would not have been provided to the PSNI. So at this stage one must be particularly circumspect about the nature and quality of the evidence against this applicant."
Mr Donegan, who has denied supplying the car, applied for bail in the High Court in Belfast by video link with Maghaberry prison, where he has been on remand since February 9.
Opposing bail, Mr Hopley said evidence had to be obtained from the garda by way of an International Letter of Request and this would take some time.
Lord Justice Campbell said taking all matters into consideration, he was still not satisfied that on a charge as grave as this the applicant would turn up and therefore he refused bail.
A MAN admitted providing the real IRA with the car used in the Omagh bombing, it was alleged during a bomb hearing in the High Court in Belfast on Friday.
Anthony Joseph Donegan, 34, a labourer from Afton Drive, Dundalk, Co. Louth, was said to have told gardai that he had stolen the car at Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, three days before the car bombing.
A total of 31 lives, including unborn twins, were lost in the August 15, 1998 blast. In the High Court on Friday Crown lawyer David Hopley said Mr Donegan's admission about stealing the car was made on June 21, 1999, while in gardai custody.
"He said he had supplied the car to a dissident republican suspect and analysis of his mobile phone at the time shows he made contact with a known dissident Omagh bomb suspect," said Mr Hopley. "He was also in contact with a known dissident suspect shortly after the explosion was reported."
Defence barrister Peter Irvine said, "It seems utterly suprising if not incredulous, that information would not have been provided to the PSNI. So at this stage one must be particularly circumspect about the nature and quality of the evidence against this applicant."
Mr Donegan, who has denied supplying the car, applied for bail in the High Court in Belfast by video link with Maghaberry prison, where he has been on remand since February 9.
Opposing bail, Mr Hopley said evidence had to be obtained from the garda by way of an International Letter of Request and this would take some time.
Lord Justice Campbell said taking all matters into consideration, he was still not satisfied that on a charge as grave as this the applicant would turn up and therefore he refused bail.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH/012
Published Date: 07-Mar-05
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