CHARGES ARE DROPPED OF STEALING CAR FOR OMAGH BOMB
Charges are dropped of stealing car for Omagh bomb
BY ANTON McCABE
CHARGES of stealing the car used in the Omagh bombing have been dropped against a man with an address in Dundalk. The Public Prosecution Service withdrew the charges in Enniskillen court on Tuesday, on the basis that it would be able to obtain a conviction.
Anthony Gerard Donegan had been charged in February with stealing the maroon Cavalier used to carry the bomb that killed 29 people and unborn twins.
He was released on Tuesday from Maghaberry prison, where he had been held since February. PSNI officers had arrested Donegan when they stopped the car he was driving in Newry.
In 2001, three Garda witness told Dublin's Central Criminal Court that Donegan had stolen the Omagh bomb car. This occurred during the trial of Colm Murphy, who was convicted of the bombing but whose conviction was quashed on appeal earlier this year.
Laurence Rush, whose wife Libby was killed in the bomb, also said Donegan's name was on a charge sheet which Gardai showed to him in October 2001.
Rush wrote to the Republic's Director of Public Prosecutions in 2002 regarding his concerns about Donegan.
"I can confirm that a decision has been made that there should not be a prosecution of the person named in your letter on the basis of the evidence available at present," replied DPP James Hamilton.
Donegan was alleged to have stolen the bomb car in Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, in the early hours of August 13,1998. He is a native of the Carrickmacross area. He was not a member of the Real IRA, but was known to be involved in car theft and other crime. At the time, the Real IRA was using a gang of car thieves in the Louth-South Monaghan area to source vehicles for attacks. Shortly after the Omagh bombing, Donegan was imprisoned in the Republic for unrelated matters. He pleaded not guilty to the Omagh charges at all stages.
BY ANTON McCABE
CHARGES of stealing the car used in the Omagh bombing have been dropped against a man with an address in Dundalk. The Public Prosecution Service withdrew the charges in Enniskillen court on Tuesday, on the basis that it would be able to obtain a conviction.
Anthony Gerard Donegan had been charged in February with stealing the maroon Cavalier used to carry the bomb that killed 29 people and unborn twins.
He was released on Tuesday from Maghaberry prison, where he had been held since February. PSNI officers had arrested Donegan when they stopped the car he was driving in Newry.
In 2001, three Garda witness told Dublin's Central Criminal Court that Donegan had stolen the Omagh bomb car. This occurred during the trial of Colm Murphy, who was convicted of the bombing but whose conviction was quashed on appeal earlier this year.
Laurence Rush, whose wife Libby was killed in the bomb, also said Donegan's name was on a charge sheet which Gardai showed to him in October 2001.
Rush wrote to the Republic's Director of Public Prosecutions in 2002 regarding his concerns about Donegan.
"I can confirm that a decision has been made that there should not be a prosecution of the person named in your letter on the basis of the evidence available at present," replied DPP James Hamilton.
Donegan was alleged to have stolen the bomb car in Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, in the early hours of August 13,1998. He is a native of the Carrickmacross area. He was not a member of the Real IRA, but was known to be involved in car theft and other crime. At the time, the Real IRA was using a gang of car thieves in the Louth-South Monaghan area to source vehicles for attacks. Shortly after the Omagh bombing, Donegan was imprisoned in the Republic for unrelated matters. He pleaded not guilty to the Omagh charges at all stages.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1809
Published Date: 30-Jun-05
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