CORONER IN WITNESS RULING
Coroner in witness ruling
HARDLINE republican Francis Mackey was due to learn today if he is to be called as a witness to the inquest into the Omagh bombing atrocity.
Coroner John Leckey was expected to rule on whether Mr Mackey, a member of Omagh District Council and chairman of the Real IRA-associated 32 County Sovereignty Movement, should be added to the list of witnesses.
An application for Mr Mackey to be called to the inquest, sitting at Omagh Leisure Centre, was made by Michael Gallagher, whose son Adrian (21) died in the blast with 28 others, among them a woman heavily pregnant with twins. He told the inquest's preliminary hearing last week the 32 County Sovereignty Movement was "inextricably linked" to the Real IRA who carried out the bombing and he wanted to hear from them.
Mr Leckey announced yesterday that he would make a decision after being passed a copy of a statement issued by the organisation, which said Mr Mackey had been informed he would not be subpoenaed to give evidence. Mr Gallagher is also keen for the only man charged in connection with the bombing to be a witness. Colm Murphy is on bail in the Republic awaiting trial, charged with conspiring to cause an explosion.
Last night Mr Gallagher said he was not suggesting they were responsible for the bomb - he believed in people being innocent until proved guilty. "But I do believe they should be called for clarification... let them come here and clear their names," he said.
The hearing was also due to be shown more police photographs, which relatives have been warned they could find harrowing.
Yesterday, they and other victims saw three unedited amateur video tapes of the moments immediately after the lethal blast.
Those who watched did so from a family room, among them Mr Gallagher who admitted the footage was difficult to watch.
But he insisted he wanted "everyone in the country to see the video and see the true horror of Omagh".
HARDLINE republican Francis Mackey was due to learn today if he is to be called as a witness to the inquest into the Omagh bombing atrocity.
Coroner John Leckey was expected to rule on whether Mr Mackey, a member of Omagh District Council and chairman of the Real IRA-associated 32 County Sovereignty Movement, should be added to the list of witnesses.
An application for Mr Mackey to be called to the inquest, sitting at Omagh Leisure Centre, was made by Michael Gallagher, whose son Adrian (21) died in the blast with 28 others, among them a woman heavily pregnant with twins. He told the inquest's preliminary hearing last week the 32 County Sovereignty Movement was "inextricably linked" to the Real IRA who carried out the bombing and he wanted to hear from them.
Mr Leckey announced yesterday that he would make a decision after being passed a copy of a statement issued by the organisation, which said Mr Mackey had been informed he would not be subpoenaed to give evidence. Mr Gallagher is also keen for the only man charged in connection with the bombing to be a witness. Colm Murphy is on bail in the Republic awaiting trial, charged with conspiring to cause an explosion.
Last night Mr Gallagher said he was not suggesting they were responsible for the bomb - he believed in people being innocent until proved guilty. "But I do believe they should be called for clarification... let them come here and clear their names," he said.
The hearing was also due to be shown more police photographs, which relatives have been warned they could find harrowing.
Yesterday, they and other victims saw three unedited amateur video tapes of the moments immediately after the lethal blast.
Those who watched did so from a family room, among them Mr Gallagher who admitted the footage was difficult to watch.
But he insisted he wanted "everyone in the country to see the video and see the true horror of Omagh".
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0757
Published Date: 08-Sep-00
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