Co Monaghan man granted bail

A Co Monaghan man arrested by detectives investigating the 1998 Omagh bombing was granted bail by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today.

Seamus Daly, (aged 32), of Kilmurray, Culloville, Castleblayney was charged last month with membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA between April 29, 1998 and November 20, 2000.

Daly is one of five men being sued in a civil action by relatives of the 29 people killed in the 1998 Omagh bombing which was claimed by the Real IRA. Mr Laurence Rush, whose wife Libby was killed in the Omagh bombing, interrupted the hearing several times from the public gallery and was warned by Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding, that he would be removed from court if the interruptions continued.

Superintendent Tom Long, Carrickmacross, objected to bail and told the court that the evidence against Daly would consist of the belief of Chief Superintendent Colm Rooney that Daly was a member of an illegal organisation.

There would also be corroborative evidence resulting from various searches of Daly's home and areas close to his home. The Superintendent said that sugar bags and gloves containing nitrates were found in September , 1998.

He also said that number plates were found for a car which had the same markings and colour as the car used in the Omagh bombing in 1998.

The Superintendent agreed with prosecuting counsel Mr Brendan Grehan that there would be telephone evidence connecting the accused by his conduct with three different bombings in 1998 at Lisburn, Banbridge and Omagh.

He agreed that a mobile phone associated Daly travelled from Castleblayney to Omagh immediately before the bombing and back the same route immediately after. The phone was also in contact with another mobile phone that travelled the same route.

Mr Justice Butler intervened at one stage and said that this was ``inflammatory stuff '' for a bail application.

Seamus Daly, in evidence, told his counsel Mr Hugh Hartnett SC that he would turn up for his trial if granted bail. He also said that intended contesting the charge.

Mr Daly agreed that he had already been named in the media in relation to the mobile phones.

Mr Justice Butler said that while Daly was charged with a serious offence, he must be presumed innocent and the court could not refuse bail to a person who must be regarded as innocent.

The court granted bail on Daly's own surety of €60,000, €20,000 of which must be a cash lodgment and an independent surety of €60,000, €20,000 of which must be a cash lodgment.

The court also ordered Daly to surrender his passport, to report daily to Castleblayney Garda Station, not to leave the jurisdiction and to give an undertaking not to associate with persons charged or convicted under the Offences Against the State Act.

Daly was remanded until April 29th when his case will be mentioned again.