Sister relieved at Murphy retrial in Omagh case

The Court of Criminal Appeal's decision to order a retrial over Mr Colm Murphy's 2002 14-year sentence for conspiring to cause…

The Court of Criminal Appeal's decision to order a retrial over Mr Colm Murphy's 2002 14-year sentence for conspiring to cause an explosion has been welcomed by his family.

After the hearing Mr Murphy 's sister, Ms Angela Reilly, and another young woman went over to the defendant in the courtroom.

Ms Reilly spent several minutes talking to him while the other woman knelt down in front of him.

Mr Murphy was then led away in handcuffs by six gardaí to await an army patrol to bring him back to prison. He has been remanded in custody until he meets bail terms which have yet to be finalised.

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Speaking afterwards, Ms Reilly said: "We are relieved. It's been a terrible time for us all. "He is doing okay, better than three years ago when justice wasn't served."

On whether the family would be able to meet bail, she said: "We hope so." In court, counsel for Mr Murphy, Mr Michael O'Higgins SC, said his client's "personal circumstances have altered very radically" since the trial.

At the time of his trial Mr Murphy had been able to deposit €50,000 bail, but Mr Higgins asked the court to note that he may be seeking to have the figure changed.

"He was a builder then . . . literally, in 24 hours his business ground to a halt. He was financially ruined by it," he said.

He said the Director of Public Prosecuitions had opposed the granting of legal aid to Mr Murphy during trial and that he would be considering bringing an application for costs against the State.

Mr Justice Kearns said he would have the opportunity to do so when the court sat again at 10.15 a.m. next Friday.

Additional reporting agencies