Omagh victim’s father: Appeal decision 'soul-destroying'

The father of one the victims of the 1998 Omagh bombing has expressed his disappointment with the Court of Criminal Appeal's decision to quash the conviction of the only man jailed in connection with the attack.

Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was killed by the Real IRA bomb, said the outcome of Colm Murphy's appeal against his conspiracy conviction was "soul-destroying".

"My reaction this morning is total and absolute shock," he said. "Here was the only person convicted in connection with the Omagh bomb and we're back now to square one again.

"It's very soul-destroying. Thirty-one people lost their lives and not one person has been held to account."