CIVIL ACTION TO HEAR EVIDENCE ON MOBILE PHONE MATRIX
Civil action to hear evidence on mobile phone matrix
BY RONAN McSHERRY
THE civil action taken by six families of Omagh bomb victims against five dissident republicans resumes in the High court in Belfast this morning (Monday).
The families believe the men were responsible for the murder of 31 people, including unborn twins, and injury to hundreds of others in the atrocity on August 15, 1998.
The five men being sued, Michael McKevitt, Colm Murphy, Liam Campbell, Seamus Daly and Seamus McKenna have strenuously denied any involvement in the explosion that was part of a Real IRA campaign that preceded and continued after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. The families have sought recourse to a civil action as they believe no-one will ever be convicted in a criminal court of law.
Today, it is expected evidence will be presented by the legal team acting for the plaintiffs regarding telephone matrix cell site analysis. In his opening submission to the High Court in Belfast last Monday, Lord Brennan QC said he will introduce evidence of mobile phone calls, which showed that Seamus McKenna was in the car which took the bomb to Omagh and that Seamus Daly was in the car which scouted out the route from Dundalk to Tyrone. Lord Brennan also claimed that Colm Murphy who is awaiting a retrial in the Republic on charges of conspiring to cause the Omagh explosion supplied phones to both McKenna and Daly.
Last week, following graphic descriptions from police officers of the carnage wrought by the 5001b bomb, the court heard a statement from a female witness who saw two men get out of the maroon Vauxhall Cavalier containing the bomb. Ruth Buchannon told how she was parked on Market Street when the bomb vehicle pulled up in front of her, half a car length away. Her statement, read by Brett Lockhart QC, for the families, said, "They were approximately six to eight feet away from me as they stood in front of my car. As the men stood on the footpath the passenger caught eye contact with myself and grinned at me. He looked calm and relaxed. The driver, however, appeared to have a serious expression." Ms Buchannon said she left Omagh before the bomb exploded. Further statements were also read from some of those who saw the car as it was driven in by two men and parked on Market Street in the centre of Omagh.
The Judge overseeing the civil action has also urged that as much evidence be delivered openly to the court. Mr Justice Morgan said, "This is a public trial and we have to be careful not to turn it into a private trial." His comment came after discussions on what testimonies and statements can be heard in court or simply read by the judge in the non-jury action.
The trial is expecting to last eight weeks.
BY RONAN McSHERRY
THE civil action taken by six families of Omagh bomb victims against five dissident republicans resumes in the High court in Belfast this morning (Monday).
The families believe the men were responsible for the murder of 31 people, including unborn twins, and injury to hundreds of others in the atrocity on August 15, 1998.
The five men being sued, Michael McKevitt, Colm Murphy, Liam Campbell, Seamus Daly and Seamus McKenna have strenuously denied any involvement in the explosion that was part of a Real IRA campaign that preceded and continued after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. The families have sought recourse to a civil action as they believe no-one will ever be convicted in a criminal court of law.
Today, it is expected evidence will be presented by the legal team acting for the plaintiffs regarding telephone matrix cell site analysis. In his opening submission to the High Court in Belfast last Monday, Lord Brennan QC said he will introduce evidence of mobile phone calls, which showed that Seamus McKenna was in the car which took the bomb to Omagh and that Seamus Daly was in the car which scouted out the route from Dundalk to Tyrone. Lord Brennan also claimed that Colm Murphy who is awaiting a retrial in the Republic on charges of conspiring to cause the Omagh explosion supplied phones to both McKenna and Daly.
Last week, following graphic descriptions from police officers of the carnage wrought by the 5001b bomb, the court heard a statement from a female witness who saw two men get out of the maroon Vauxhall Cavalier containing the bomb. Ruth Buchannon told how she was parked on Market Street when the bomb vehicle pulled up in front of her, half a car length away. Her statement, read by Brett Lockhart QC, for the families, said, "They were approximately six to eight feet away from me as they stood in front of my car. As the men stood on the footpath the passenger caught eye contact with myself and grinned at me. He looked calm and relaxed. The driver, however, appeared to have a serious expression." Ms Buchannon said she left Omagh before the bomb exploded. Further statements were also read from some of those who saw the car as it was driven in by two men and parked on Market Street in the centre of Omagh.
The Judge overseeing the civil action has also urged that as much evidence be delivered openly to the court. Mr Justice Morgan said, "This is a public trial and we have to be careful not to turn it into a private trial." His comment came after discussions on what testimonies and statements can be heard in court or simply read by the judge in the non-jury action.
The trial is expecting to last eight weeks.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH/073
Published Date: 14-Apr-08
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