FORMER ALLY OF OMAGH BOME SUSPECT TO GIVE EVIDENCE IN CIVIL CASE
Former ally of Omagh bomb suspect to give evidence in civil case
BY RONAN McSHERRY
THE trial judge at the Omagh bomb civil case has ordered an associate of one of the five men being sued by the victims' families to give evidence next month.
Although the High Court in Belfast has been told Terence Patrick Morgan is unfit to attend, arrangements were made to have him cross-examined in the coming weeks. Mr Morgan recently sought psychiatric treatment. Lawyers for three of the defendants want to question him over claims he made during questioning following the attack on August 15, 1998. Six families of those killed in the bombing in the town have taken the multi-million pound case against the men they believe were responsible for the atrocity. The dissident republicans being sued for the massacre Michael McKevitt, Colm Murphy, Liam Campbell, Seamus Daly and Seamus McKenna deny liability. The families have sought recourse to a civil action as they believe no-one will ever be convicted in a criminal court of law. The Omagh families are seeking punitive and exemplary damages in this court action.
During interviews with Mr Morgan it was alleged that he falsely signed in one of them, Seamus McKenna, as being at work on the day of the bombing. The court has also heard further claims that he lent his mobile phone to his boss, Colm Murphy, the day before the Real IRA attack. Another allegation to emerge from police transcripts presented to the court involved Morgan saying he was teasingly accused by Seamus Daly of driving the car packed with explosives to the scene of the blast. It was claimed Daly made the taunts when he was drunk on the night of the bombing. Mr Morgan is said to have later retracted some of what he said to police.
The court was told a doctor's letter had been received which stated he was seeking psychiatric assistance and was unfit to attend. While emphasising care would need to be taken in dealing with someone in such a condition, trial judge Mr Justice Morgan directed that the witness should turn up later this month to establish whether he was able to give evidence.
The trial continues.
BY RONAN McSHERRY
THE trial judge at the Omagh bomb civil case has ordered an associate of one of the five men being sued by the victims' families to give evidence next month.
Although the High Court in Belfast has been told Terence Patrick Morgan is unfit to attend, arrangements were made to have him cross-examined in the coming weeks. Mr Morgan recently sought psychiatric treatment. Lawyers for three of the defendants want to question him over claims he made during questioning following the attack on August 15, 1998. Six families of those killed in the bombing in the town have taken the multi-million pound case against the men they believe were responsible for the atrocity. The dissident republicans being sued for the massacre Michael McKevitt, Colm Murphy, Liam Campbell, Seamus Daly and Seamus McKenna deny liability. The families have sought recourse to a civil action as they believe no-one will ever be convicted in a criminal court of law. The Omagh families are seeking punitive and exemplary damages in this court action.
During interviews with Mr Morgan it was alleged that he falsely signed in one of them, Seamus McKenna, as being at work on the day of the bombing. The court has also heard further claims that he lent his mobile phone to his boss, Colm Murphy, the day before the Real IRA attack. Another allegation to emerge from police transcripts presented to the court involved Morgan saying he was teasingly accused by Seamus Daly of driving the car packed with explosives to the scene of the blast. It was claimed Daly made the taunts when he was drunk on the night of the bombing. Mr Morgan is said to have later retracted some of what he said to police.
The court was told a doctor's letter had been received which stated he was seeking psychiatric assistance and was unfit to attend. While emphasising care would need to be taken in dealing with someone in such a condition, trial judge Mr Justice Morgan directed that the witness should turn up later this month to establish whether he was able to give evidence.
The trial continues.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH/080
Published Date: 27-Oct-08
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