Garda 'framed' Murphy in Omagh inquiry, court told

Counsel for Mr Colm Murphy, the only person charged to date in connection with the 1998 Omagh bombing, has this evening told …

Counsel for Mr Colm Murphy, the only person charged to date in connection with the 1998 Omagh bombing, has this evening told the Special Criminal Court that the Garda "framed" him.

Mr Michael O’Higgins SC, in his closing submission to the court, said a "collage of untruths" was orchestrated by both the RUC and the Garda in order to ensnare Mr Murphy.

Mr Murphy (49) from Ravensdale, Dundalk, Co Louth, has pleaded not guilty to conspiring to cause an explosion in the State or elsewhere between August 13th and 16th, 1998.

Mr O’Higgins claimed Ms Lisa Parnell, an intelligence officer with the RUC, lied under oath in order to protect an incriminatory "scenario" created by two senior Garda officers involved in the interrogation of Mr Murphy.

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Ms Parnell changed testimony she gave as to the date particular information was faxed from her office. Mr O’Higgins claimed her evidence was "tailored" to disguise certain untruths.

Mr O’Higgins also said this case had worked backwards; "explosion, records, moving back to Murphy" and said that when an element of "jiggery and pokery" was also involved, there was a real possibility one might arrive at a "dangerous and unsafe conclusion".

Earlier today Mr O’Higgins urged the three-judge jury to consider the "irregularities" of the Garda investigation into Mr Murphy's alleged role in the Omagh bombing.

He told the court "cheating" had occurred during the questioning of his client which had compromised Mr Murphy's case.

He said "dovetailing" had also occurred among the Garda team. Discussions to "fill in the potholes" in the evidence against Mr Murphy had taken place, he told the court.

He said the Garda was "contriving a false confession" and had used "somewhat artificial methods" to do so.

A judgement is expected on Friday next.