Ireland

Verdict welcomed by families, politicians and Garda

The conviction of Colm Murphy for conspiring to plan the Omagh bomb in 1998, was this afternoon welcomed by the families of the…

Clodagh Mulvey
Tue Jan 22 2002 - 00:00

The conviction of Colm Murphy for conspiring to plan the Omagh bomb in 1998, was this afternoon welcomed by the families of the victims.

Omagh bomb anniversary
Flowers with a message for a Omagh Bomb victim from a relative marking the third anniversary of the bombing in August 2001.

But for them it is just part of a long campaign to bring all those responsible for killing their loved ones to justice.

Mr Lawrence Rush, whose wife Lizzy was killed in the bombing, said he was "delighted with the result", and said he and his family had waited a long time, but justice had now been done.

However, Mr Rush said Murphy had not acted alone and his conviction was only the "first crack" at bringing all those repsonsible for the atrocity to justice.

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He said all those involved had denied his "lovely wife Lizzy" the most basic right, the right to life and said there was a "deep resolve to finish the quest for justice" among Omagh's bereaved.

Mr Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aidan died at Omagh, said: "Obviously he is the person who gave or loaned his telephone and he has refused to come forward and identify the bombers.

"He has played a part in what happened in Omagh and he has refused to share that with the authorities."

But he added: "There were a lot more people involved in the Omagh bombing than Colm Murphy and I think that whether these people are brought to justice remains to be seen.

"Murphy has been found guilty of the conspiracy charge - but it is important to remember that after more than three years no-one has been charged with murder at Omagh."

  • The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern said: The Omagh bomb was one of the most vicious outrages in the history of the conflict in Northern Ireland ... no effort has been, or would be, spared by the Garda uthorities in doing all they could to ensure that all of those responsible for the Omagh bomb were brought to justice."
  • Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid said: "I hope it will go some small way towards easing the grief and sadness suffered by the families ... What is needed now is that the perpetrators if this atrocity are pursued vigorously and brought to justice."
  • Garda Assistant Commissioner Mr Kevin Carthy said: "This conviction is a significant milestone" in the Omagh bomb investigation, and claimed the Garda Siochana and PSNI were as committed now as they were on August 15th 1998, to bringing those responsible to justice.
  • Labour TD, Mr Brendan Howlin said: "The Omagh bombing was a heinous crime and it is a matter of concern that the combined efforts of the police forces in the Republic and in Northern Ireland has resulted in only one person being charged in connection with the outrage.

"I hope that both the Gardai and the Police Service of Northern Ireland will now intensify their efforts to bring all those responsible to justice. The relatives and the victims of Omagh deserve nothing less."