MAN REMANDED ON BOMB CHARGE
Man remanded on bomb charge
BY: MICHELE CANNING
Meanwhile Sovereignty group brand continued detention of Omagh councillor as 'political witchhunt'
THE FIRST man to be charged in connection with the Omagh bombing was remanded in custody after appearing before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday (Wed).
In the dock was Dundalk man, Colm Murphy, formerly from South Armagh, who is accused of conspiracy to cause an explosion, and membership of the IRA.
The 48 year old businessman was one of eleven men arrested in cross-border raids as part of the ongoing Gardai and RUC investigation into the August 15th Real IRA atrocity, which claimed the lives of 31 innocent people.
At the time of going to press four people are still being detained, including Omagh Independent Councillor, Francis Mackey, who was arrested by the RUC at the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital where he works as a psychiatric nurse.
Mackey, the Chairman of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, is one of two people under interrogation at Strand Road RUC barracks in Derry. Two other men remain in Garda custody in Carrickmacross being questioned about the Omagh bomb.
The first of the swoops came in raids on Sunday evening when seven men were arrested on both sides of the border. The RUC detained two men from South Armagh, while another five men, one from the North, were taken into Garda custody.
On Monday morning came the arrest of Francis Mackey and a search of his Mountfield home. That was followed by the detention of three men from the Crossmaglen and Cullaville areas of South Armagh. A number of properties were also searched.
On Tuesday night one man was charged and appeared at a Dublin Court yesterday morning.
48 year old Colm Murphy, of Jordan's Corner, Ravensdale, near Dundalk, was remanded in custody after a five minute hearing.
Whilst no mention was made of Omagh in Court, a Garda statement earlier said Murphy was charged as part of the ongoing investigation into the Omagh bombing.
The 48 year old, originally from Beleeks in South Armagh, had been living in Dundalk for the past ten years, working as a publican and building contractor.
The first charge accuses him, on dates between August 13th and 16th, of unlawfully and maliciously conspiring, with persons not before the Court, to cause an explosion likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property, whether within the state, or elsewhere.
He also faces a charge of being a member of an unlawful organisation, describing itself as the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oghlaigh na hEireann, on August 14th.
It is understood that the term IRA covers the breakaway Republican groupings, including the so called Real IRA and the Continuity IRA.
The businessman spoke only once during the hearing to acknowledge his name.
Murphy was remanded to appear back before the non jury Court on March 18th.
The father of bomb victim, 21 year old Adrian Gallagher, has said it is a "totally trying time for us as a family and it will be a difficult time for all of the families involved."
Michael Gallagher, commenting on the arrests, said "We don't know if the, arrests are final or if they are part of an ongoing process.
"But it will send a message to the people involved that no matter where they go or hide they will be caught."
Mr Gallagher said he would not like to see charges unless a solid conviction can be obtained.
"We do not want to go through the process to find out it didn't have the results. This is a continuous nightmare for the families involved. It is difficult in that it will be another August 15th all over again.''
Meanwhile, the 32 County Sovereignty Committee has described the arrest of its Chairman as a political witch hunt.
It described Francis Mackey's detention as "an attempt to silence the growing political opposition to the Stormont deal."
BY: MICHELE CANNING
Meanwhile Sovereignty group brand continued detention of Omagh councillor as 'political witchhunt'
THE FIRST man to be charged in connection with the Omagh bombing was remanded in custody after appearing before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday (Wed).
In the dock was Dundalk man, Colm Murphy, formerly from South Armagh, who is accused of conspiracy to cause an explosion, and membership of the IRA.
The 48 year old businessman was one of eleven men arrested in cross-border raids as part of the ongoing Gardai and RUC investigation into the August 15th Real IRA atrocity, which claimed the lives of 31 innocent people.
At the time of going to press four people are still being detained, including Omagh Independent Councillor, Francis Mackey, who was arrested by the RUC at the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital where he works as a psychiatric nurse.
Mackey, the Chairman of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, is one of two people under interrogation at Strand Road RUC barracks in Derry. Two other men remain in Garda custody in Carrickmacross being questioned about the Omagh bomb.
The first of the swoops came in raids on Sunday evening when seven men were arrested on both sides of the border. The RUC detained two men from South Armagh, while another five men, one from the North, were taken into Garda custody.
On Monday morning came the arrest of Francis Mackey and a search of his Mountfield home. That was followed by the detention of three men from the Crossmaglen and Cullaville areas of South Armagh. A number of properties were also searched.
On Tuesday night one man was charged and appeared at a Dublin Court yesterday morning.
48 year old Colm Murphy, of Jordan's Corner, Ravensdale, near Dundalk, was remanded in custody after a five minute hearing.
Whilst no mention was made of Omagh in Court, a Garda statement earlier said Murphy was charged as part of the ongoing investigation into the Omagh bombing.
The 48 year old, originally from Beleeks in South Armagh, had been living in Dundalk for the past ten years, working as a publican and building contractor.
The first charge accuses him, on dates between August 13th and 16th, of unlawfully and maliciously conspiring, with persons not before the Court, to cause an explosion likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property, whether within the state, or elsewhere.
He also faces a charge of being a member of an unlawful organisation, describing itself as the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oghlaigh na hEireann, on August 14th.
It is understood that the term IRA covers the breakaway Republican groupings, including the so called Real IRA and the Continuity IRA.
The businessman spoke only once during the hearing to acknowledge his name.
Murphy was remanded to appear back before the non jury Court on March 18th.
The father of bomb victim, 21 year old Adrian Gallagher, has said it is a "totally trying time for us as a family and it will be a difficult time for all of the families involved."
Michael Gallagher, commenting on the arrests, said "We don't know if the, arrests are final or if they are part of an ongoing process.
"But it will send a message to the people involved that no matter where they go or hide they will be caught."
Mr Gallagher said he would not like to see charges unless a solid conviction can be obtained.
"We do not want to go through the process to find out it didn't have the results. This is a continuous nightmare for the families involved. It is difficult in that it will be another August 15th all over again.''
Meanwhile, the 32 County Sovereignty Committee has described the arrest of its Chairman as a political witch hunt.
It described Francis Mackey's detention as "an attempt to silence the growing political opposition to the Stormont deal."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1216
Published Date: 25-Feb-99
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