1998 ATRCOCITY SUSPECT JAILED IN DUBLIN
1998 atrocity suspect jailed in Dublin
A MAN jailed last week for membership of the Real IRA was probably in Omagh on the day of the 1998 car bomb atrocity. Records traced his mobile phone to Omagh before and after the explosion.
Seamus Daly, of Kilmurray, Culloville, Castleblayney is said to have travelled from Castleblayney to Omagh and back again on August 15, when 31 lives were taken. He is one of five being sued by victims' families.
The phone records were included in evidence against Daly, who pleaded guilty to membership of an illegal organisation at the Special Criminal Court sitting in Dublin. Daly was given the phone by Colm Murphy, a Dundalk publican and the only person convicted in connection with the Omagh bomb.
During his trial, the court was told Murphy said he had a "good idea" that his phone was used in the bombing. Using a satellite tracking system that allows mobile phone signals to be located by the nearest transmission mast, police could pinpoint the phone.
Eight calls were made from the phone between 12.30pm and 3.30pm, mostly to the home of the other suspected bomber. The first was made from Castleblayney at 12.41pm. At 1.57pm, a call was made from Omagh, according to the phone records. At 2.10pm, a third call was made from his phone outside the town.
Gardai suspect that the phone was used by a scout who was driving the car which travelled ahead of the vehicle packed with explosives. The car bomb was parked at 2.20pm and the signals from Daly's phone moved south.
The bomb exploded at 3.10pm; three minutes later, a call was made from Monaghan to another Real IRA suspect.
Daly also called an accountant in Kilkenny, with whom he was involved in a tax deal. The accountant later gave a signed statement confirming that he spoke to the man on that mobile phone number about a tax clearance certificate.
Daly, 34, from a known republican family, was given a three and a half year sentence at the court in Dublin last week - a sentence which was condemned by Michael Gallagher, Chairman of the Omagh Support and Self Help group, who said leniency sent out the wrong message to terrorists.
A MAN jailed last week for membership of the Real IRA was probably in Omagh on the day of the 1998 car bomb atrocity. Records traced his mobile phone to Omagh before and after the explosion.
Seamus Daly, of Kilmurray, Culloville, Castleblayney is said to have travelled from Castleblayney to Omagh and back again on August 15, when 31 lives were taken. He is one of five being sued by victims' families.
The phone records were included in evidence against Daly, who pleaded guilty to membership of an illegal organisation at the Special Criminal Court sitting in Dublin. Daly was given the phone by Colm Murphy, a Dundalk publican and the only person convicted in connection with the Omagh bomb.
During his trial, the court was told Murphy said he had a "good idea" that his phone was used in the bombing. Using a satellite tracking system that allows mobile phone signals to be located by the nearest transmission mast, police could pinpoint the phone.
Eight calls were made from the phone between 12.30pm and 3.30pm, mostly to the home of the other suspected bomber. The first was made from Castleblayney at 12.41pm. At 1.57pm, a call was made from Omagh, according to the phone records. At 2.10pm, a third call was made from his phone outside the town.
Gardai suspect that the phone was used by a scout who was driving the car which travelled ahead of the vehicle packed with explosives. The car bomb was parked at 2.20pm and the signals from Daly's phone moved south.
The bomb exploded at 3.10pm; three minutes later, a call was made from Monaghan to another Real IRA suspect.
Daly also called an accountant in Kilkenny, with whom he was involved in a tax deal. The accountant later gave a signed statement confirming that he spoke to the man on that mobile phone number about a tax clearance certificate.
Daly, 34, from a known republican family, was given a three and a half year sentence at the court in Dublin last week - a sentence which was condemned by Michael Gallagher, Chairman of the Omagh Support and Self Help group, who said leniency sent out the wrong message to terrorists.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1753
Published Date: 11-Mar-04
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