The Gunmen of The Troubles: Colm Murphy, the life-time republican found liable for Omagh Bombing
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden died in the bombing, has spoken of his 'sadness and disappointment' that Colm Murphy died without facing justice.
A native of Belleeks in Co Armagh, Murphy was arrested in Dundalk on March 6, 1972 when he was questioned about an assault. Gardaí found a loaded revolver in his car and he was subsequently jailed for two years for unlawful possession of firearms by the Special Criminal Court in June 1972.
He was sent to Portlaoise prison and from there to the Curragh military prison but escaped in October, 1972 and remained "on the run" until his recapture in May, 1973.
He came before the Special Criminal Court again in June 1976 and was given a three-year sentence for firearms offences and a one-year concurrent term for IRA membership.
Murphy was convicted in the United States in July 1983 for attempting to buy a consignment of M60 machine guns for the INLA and jailed for five years. He was given early release and returned to Ireland in December 1985 and based himself in Dundalk.
The Belfast Telegraph's Security Correspondent Allison Morris profiles him.
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