BOMB CAR THIEF GOES SCOT-FREE
Bomb car thief goes scot-free
BY JOHN CARNEY
STRONG evidence against the man who initially stole the car used in the Omagh bombing has been ignored by police on both sides of the border, it was claimed yesterday. Laurence Rush who lost his wife, Libbi, in the 1998 bombing produced evidence to the UlsterHerald that the named car thief has still not been punished.
During the trials of Omagh bombers, Liam Campbell and Colin Murphy, Anthony Donegan was named as the only person involved in the car's theft.
"Anthony Donegan was named on numerous occasions during the trials of both Omagh bombers as the one who stole the car that contained the Omagh bomb, but it has made no difference," Mr Rush said. "It was no secret in the trials of Liam Campbell and Colin Murphy of Donegan's part of stealing the car in Carrickmacross."
Mr Rush produced official documents for the UlsterHerald backing up his claims that the identity of the Omagh bombing car theif is well known but no action has been taken against him.
The official transcript of the Special Criminal Court trial of convicted Omagh bomber, Colin Murphy, reads 'it was established in evidence and, was not in controversy, that the motor car which contained the bomb had been stolen in Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan in the early hours of the 13th of August, 1998'. Donegan was then named as the car thief.
Also, an official statement on the bomb suspects by Det. Supt T. P. Foley of Monaghan states 'I have no problem showing you the charge sheets. These charge sheets concern the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle."
"Anthony Donegan's name is the name on this charge sheet, yet he has not been prosecuted for it," Mr Rush said. "It beggars belief the amount of evidence there is against this man but it makes no difference whatsoever. All we have had is years of being told our requests are under review from the authorities. We are put off all the time.
"The authorities want to bury us in as much bureaucracy as possible to draw everything out for as long as they can, so that we will just give up. But justice must be done no matter how long it takes."
However, in a belated response to Mr Rush's repeated demands for action against the car thief, the Republic's Director of Public Prosecutions James Hamilton now says that there is simply not enough evidence to prosecute Anthony Donegan.
"Before I initiate a prosecution, I have to be satisfied of two matters, firstly, that there is sufficient evidence to support a prosecution, and secondly, that there is no reason of public policy not to do so," says the DPP. "I reiterate that the reasons for not prosecuting in this case is for lack of sufficient evidence. The decision not to proceed is never final since further evidence may turn up, although as time goes on this becomes less likely.
"I would like to assure you (Mr Rush) that I am not and have not at anytime pursued any appeasement policy in relation to organisations which are thought to be responsible for the atrocity in Omagh."
BY JOHN CARNEY
STRONG evidence against the man who initially stole the car used in the Omagh bombing has been ignored by police on both sides of the border, it was claimed yesterday. Laurence Rush who lost his wife, Libbi, in the 1998 bombing produced evidence to the UlsterHerald that the named car thief has still not been punished.
During the trials of Omagh bombers, Liam Campbell and Colin Murphy, Anthony Donegan was named as the only person involved in the car's theft.
"Anthony Donegan was named on numerous occasions during the trials of both Omagh bombers as the one who stole the car that contained the Omagh bomb, but it has made no difference," Mr Rush said. "It was no secret in the trials of Liam Campbell and Colin Murphy of Donegan's part of stealing the car in Carrickmacross."
Mr Rush produced official documents for the UlsterHerald backing up his claims that the identity of the Omagh bombing car theif is well known but no action has been taken against him.
The official transcript of the Special Criminal Court trial of convicted Omagh bomber, Colin Murphy, reads 'it was established in evidence and, was not in controversy, that the motor car which contained the bomb had been stolen in Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan in the early hours of the 13th of August, 1998'. Donegan was then named as the car thief.
Also, an official statement on the bomb suspects by Det. Supt T. P. Foley of Monaghan states 'I have no problem showing you the charge sheets. These charge sheets concern the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle."
"Anthony Donegan's name is the name on this charge sheet, yet he has not been prosecuted for it," Mr Rush said. "It beggars belief the amount of evidence there is against this man but it makes no difference whatsoever. All we have had is years of being told our requests are under review from the authorities. We are put off all the time.
"The authorities want to bury us in as much bureaucracy as possible to draw everything out for as long as they can, so that we will just give up. But justice must be done no matter how long it takes."
However, in a belated response to Mr Rush's repeated demands for action against the car thief, the Republic's Director of Public Prosecutions James Hamilton now says that there is simply not enough evidence to prosecute Anthony Donegan.
"Before I initiate a prosecution, I have to be satisfied of two matters, firstly, that there is sufficient evidence to support a prosecution, and secondly, that there is no reason of public policy not to do so," says the DPP. "I reiterate that the reasons for not prosecuting in this case is for lack of sufficient evidence. The decision not to proceed is never final since further evidence may turn up, although as time goes on this becomes less likely.
"I would like to assure you (Mr Rush) that I am not and have not at anytime pursued any appeasement policy in relation to organisations which are thought to be responsible for the atrocity in Omagh."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1126
Published Date: 12-Dec-02
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