Omagh bombing: trial defence disputes detective's notes
The defence team of a man charged in connection with the Omagh bombing today disputed the authenticity of notes taken by detectives during their questioning of the accused.
Michael O’Higgins, SC , suggested at Dublin’s Special Criminal Court that officers fabricated details in their notes after interviewing Colm Murphy, 49.
The defence claims came on the 11th day of the trial of Murphy, from Dudalk, Co Louth, who is charged with conspiracy to cause an explosion.
He denies the charge.
Mr O’Higgins spent several hours cross-examining detective garda Liam Donnelly, going through notes the officer took during three interviews with the father of four.
He said: ‘‘It is all conversations that cannot be pinned down or checked against independently verifiable information.’’
At one stage Mr O’Higgins implied that the detective had taken the notes home last night to make alterations, but later apologised for making the suggestion after angry protests from the officer.
The notes in question were being presented in evidence against Murphy, claiming that the publican and building contractor handed over mobile telephones to known Republicans.
It is alleged that the phones were then used in the operation to move the bomb to Omagh and plant it in the crowded shopping town.
In proceedings yesterday the court heard that Murphy told detective Donnelly, while under arrest on February 23 this year, that he thought the telephone could have been used to move ‘‘rifles or something like that’’.
Murphy was also alleged to have admitted to being a member of the Army Council of the Continuity IRA in the notes, the court was told yesterday.
Twenty-nine people died, including a woman pregnant with twins, and more than 200 were injured when the bomb exploded in the Co Tyrone market town on August 15, 1998.
Murphy denies conspiracy to cause an explosion within the state of Ireland, or elsewhere, likely to cause loss of life or serious injury to property between 13 and 16 August 1998.
