Omagh bomb accused to get retrial

Relatives of those who died in the Omagh bombing have expressed “total shock” after the only man jailed over the 1998 atrocity today won his appeal against the conviction.

At Dublin's Court of Criminal Appeal, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns granted a retrial of the case of Colm Murphy, 51, who was jailed for 14 years in 2002 for conspiring to cause the explosion.

On Friday, Mr Justice Kearns said Mr Murphy's appeal against the Garda approach to interview notes used at his trial, and evidence given by two detectives in relation to them, was to be allowed and added that Mr Murphy's appeal against reference to his previous convictions at his original trial was also being allowed.

Reacting to the news, Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden died in the bombing, said: "It seems to me now that's the number of deaths the people in this country are willing to accept - 31 innocent people including two unborn children, and not one person being held to account for that."

Mr Justice Kearns imposed a bail requirement of a 50,000 euro cash deposit and two independent sureties of 35,000 euro.

Mr Murphy was also asked to surrender his passport, report daily to Dundalk Garda station and to provide the address at which he will be residing.

Mr Murphy was remanded in custody until he can meet bail conditions.

A date has yet to be set for the retrial.

(MB/SP)