OMAGH BOMB PLOTTER STARTS 14-YEAR JAIL TERM
Omagh bomb plotter starts 14-year jail term
RELATIVES of the Omagh bombing atrocity applauded after businessman Colm Murphy the only man convicted in connection with the outrage was sentenced to 14 years for his part in the 1998 atrocity.
49-year-old Murphy, originally from Co Armagh but with an address at Ravensdale, Co Louth, was convicted earlier of conspiracy to cause the Real IRA explosion that claimed the biggest toll of deaths in a single incident over all the years of the Northern Ireland conflict.
Married with four children, and with previous terrorism linked convictions in Dublin and New York, he was described by Justice Robert Barr, President of the three judge, no jury court, as "a long-time republican extremist and member of a dissident group opposed to the peace agreement of Northern Ireland".
The judge stressed that Murphy was not among those who planned or put the Omagh car bomb in position more than three years ago. But he added: "Those who planted the bomb and Murphy as a back up or service provider must have realised that the operation to plant the bomb was fraught with danger and risked death and injury to many."
He added: "Anyone who participated in conspiracy relating to a major atrocity, which may have appalling consequences to many, is guilty of a serious crime."
Murphy looked on almost impassively as he was being sentenced. Family, friends and supporters of Murphy also looked on with few apparent signs of emotion.
His wife, Anne, sitting in court just a few feet away from her husband, grimaced slightly and shrugged her shoulders when she heard the jail term.
A few minutes later as Murphy was led away from the dock a number of relatives of the victims of the Omagh bombing spontaneously applauded for a few seconds.
Mrs Murphy shouted at them: "You should be ashamed of yourselves."
Murphy, through his defence counsel Michael O'Higgins, maintained his innocence throughout the trial, claiming to be a victim of a miscarriage of justice.
He was found guilty on the basis of confessions he made while in custody in February 1999.
The judges also decided that he lent his own mobile phone and that of his unwitting foreman, Terence Morgan, to a man, who, in the judges" verdict, was "alleged to be a terrorist and a leading member of the Real IRA who the Garda believe had been involved in the Omagh bombing".
RELATIVES of the Omagh bombing atrocity applauded after businessman Colm Murphy the only man convicted in connection with the outrage was sentenced to 14 years for his part in the 1998 atrocity.
49-year-old Murphy, originally from Co Armagh but with an address at Ravensdale, Co Louth, was convicted earlier of conspiracy to cause the Real IRA explosion that claimed the biggest toll of deaths in a single incident over all the years of the Northern Ireland conflict.
Married with four children, and with previous terrorism linked convictions in Dublin and New York, he was described by Justice Robert Barr, President of the three judge, no jury court, as "a long-time republican extremist and member of a dissident group opposed to the peace agreement of Northern Ireland".
The judge stressed that Murphy was not among those who planned or put the Omagh car bomb in position more than three years ago. But he added: "Those who planted the bomb and Murphy as a back up or service provider must have realised that the operation to plant the bomb was fraught with danger and risked death and injury to many."
He added: "Anyone who participated in conspiracy relating to a major atrocity, which may have appalling consequences to many, is guilty of a serious crime."
Murphy looked on almost impassively as he was being sentenced. Family, friends and supporters of Murphy also looked on with few apparent signs of emotion.
His wife, Anne, sitting in court just a few feet away from her husband, grimaced slightly and shrugged her shoulders when she heard the jail term.
A few minutes later as Murphy was led away from the dock a number of relatives of the victims of the Omagh bombing spontaneously applauded for a few seconds.
Mrs Murphy shouted at them: "You should be ashamed of yourselves."
Murphy, through his defence counsel Michael O'Higgins, maintained his innocence throughout the trial, claiming to be a victim of a miscarriage of justice.
He was found guilty on the basis of confessions he made while in custody in February 1999.
The judges also decided that he lent his own mobile phone and that of his unwitting foreman, Terence Morgan, to a man, who, in the judges" verdict, was "alleged to be a terrorist and a leading member of the Real IRA who the Garda believe had been involved in the Omagh bombing".
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0945
Published Date: 31-Jan-02
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