The trial of Mr Colm Murphy, accused of plotting the Omagh bombing, is to open at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today.
Mr Murphy (49), a married father of four, building contractor and publican, is from Belleeks, Co Armagh, with an address at Jordan's Corner, Ravensdale, Co Louth. He is the first and so far the only person to be charged on either side of the Border in connection with the August 1998 bombing which killed 29 people.
Mr Murphy is currently free on £100,000 bail. He is charged with conspiring in Dundalk with another person not before the court to cause an explosion in the State or elsewhere between August 13th and 16th, 1998.
He is also charged with membership of an illegal organisation, Oglaigh na h╔ireann, on August 14th, 1998. The trial at the non-jury anti-terrorist court consisting of three judges is expected to last at least four weeks.