"May God forgive him, because I can't," said Mr Laurence Rush, who lost his wife Libbi in the Omagh bombing. Outside the court yesterday, where Mr Rush had attended almost every day of the trial, he said he was "overjoyed" at the guilty verdict.
Thanking the judiciary, the Garda and the RUC who had investigated the mass murder, he said Murphy had not acted alone. "They have just seen the first crack in the plate. The others still have to be caught. . .
"It's a great day for the people of Ireland. We will bring this forward. We will see more arrests. The victims of this atrocity will see justice.
"May God forgive him, because I can't. He denied my lovely wife Libbi the right to be here. Our anger has softened into a gentle sadness and a deep resolve to continue the quest for justice."
Mr Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was among the 29 people killed, said: "The court in Dublin has sent a very strong message to the people responsible for the bomb - you will not be allowed to get away with it.
"The Omagh bomb affected the lives of 600 people and this verdict is a very positive result. But other people were involved in this crime and it is important they are brought to justice as well." Mr Gallagher said Murphy should receive a life sentence.
Mr Kelvin Skeleton, whose wife Philomena was killed in the bomb, also welcomed the verdict. "I am delighted. It is absolutely brilliant. But it is only the start of a long journey. We want to see all the people responsible for the bomb behind bars. Until then, our lives cannot move on.
"I want justice for my wife, my children and all those who died. Things haven't been good for us recently but this is a very positive outcome," he added.
Mr Victor Barker, whose son James died in the blast, said yesterday's conviction was an important step forward.
The detective who headed the RUC side of the Omagh investigation until his retirement a year ago, former chief supt Mr Eric Anderson, said: "I am delighted for the relatives. It is a great result for them, particularly at the present time. It is also a great result for the Garda. They achieved this conviction with help from the RUC."
The SDLP Assembly member for West Tyrone, Mr Joe Byrne, said: "It is to be welcomed that someone has been duly tried and convicted in relation to the Omagh bombing. there is a need for renewed vigour in pursuing those whom it is believed have been involved."
Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, an Ulster Unionist MP, said: "I welcome the fact that the Irish courts found Colm Murphy guilty but he was only one member of a very sophisticated team involved in the construction, delivery and detonation of this bomb that destroyed so many lives. Police on both sides of the Border must redouble their efforts to secure the conviction of other members of the Real IRA gang responsible for this atrocity."