Courts / Louth / Report
Son of man found civilly liable for Omagh bombing withdraws appeal
Summary
Conan Murphy, aged 30, the son of Colm Murphy, withdrew his appeal against a six‑year jail term for building an explosive in County Louth in 2010. Murphy had pleaded guilty before trial, while his co‑defendant Philip McKevitt, aged 62, contested the charge and was convicted. Both men had earlier appealed convictions that followed a Supreme Court ruling that Section 29 search warrants were unconstitutional, leading to retrials. Murphy was sentenced to seven‑and‑a‑half years, with the final 18 months suspended; McKevitt received eight‑and‑a‑half years. On Monday, McKevitt withdrew his appeal after the Court of Appeal reminded his lawyers of the court's full powers, and on Thursday Murphy's lawyers formally withdrew his appeal. The case involved surveillance of a house in Aghaboys, where police found a shed containing a bomb‑loading unit, two gas cylinders, 26 kg of glucose, and a command‑wire, and an ERU intervention prevented the device's completion.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Son of man found civilly liable for Omagh bombing withdraws appeal. Charges or matters: the Real IRA bombing of Omagh which killed 29 people, but who was later cleared in a retrial following an appeal. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- May 22, 2010 Incident
- May 22nd Other
- 2018-06-28 Publication
Why: Both men had successfully appealed earlier convictions for the same offence because the original Special Criminal Court convicted them one day after the Supreme Court declared that 'Section 29' search warrants were repugnant to the Constitution. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: the Real IRA bombing of Omagh which killed 29 people, but who was later cleared in a retrial following an appeal (Proven)
Plea: Guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; On Thursday in the Court of Appeal, lawyers for Murphy formally withdrew his sentence appeal also.
Appellant
Charges: the Real IRA bombing of Omagh which killed 29 people, but who was later cleared in a retrial following an appeal (Proven)
Plea: Guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Murphy was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended while McKevitt was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years imprisonment by the non-jury court. McKevitt withdrew an appeal against the severity of his sentence on Monday after the Court of Appeal reminded his lawyers of the court's full powers – that the Court of Appeal has power to increase sentences as well as reduce them.
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
- Supreme Court
- Court of Appeal
- Belfast High Court
Topics
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