MAN ON OMAGH MURDER CHARGES
Man on Omagh murder charges
Names of 29 victims read out in court
By Jonathan McCambridge
CRIME CORRESPONDENT
HISTORY was made in an Ulster courtroom today when a south Armagh man was accused of murdering the 29 people who died in the worst single terrorist atrocity of the Troubles.
Unemployed electrician Sean Gerard Hoey (35), from Molly Road, Jonesborough, showed no emotion as he was formally charged with 61 offences, including 29 of murder, arising from the bombing of Omagh in August, 1998.
Hoey, dressed in jeans and a brown jumper, stood in the dock of Craigavon Magistrates Court, as the names of the 29 victims were read out to him during the holding of a preliminary enquiry.
As well as 29 murder charges, he was also charged with 25 explosive offences and seven charges of conspiring to murder members of the security forces, all relating to the Omagh blast in August 1998.
Hoey's solicitor, Peter Corrigan, told the court there was "no new evidence" against his client.
He said the prosecution case rested solely on a single witness statement from March 2003 which stated that Hoey "possibly constructed" the Omagh bomb.
He said: "This statement did not say it was certain or likely, or even more likely than not that he constructed the Omagh device, merely that it was possible.
"I would ask the DPP to look at this evidence again as there is no realistic possibility of a conviction."
Mr Corrigan said the only conclusion he could reach was that there were "political considerations" in the charging of his client.
Mr Corrigan asked the court to order the prosecution team to serve the defence with information and details of an international review commission into the Omagh bomb.
Magistrate Alan White refused the application and ordered Hoey to appear at the Laganside courts in Belfast next Tuesday.
"It is obviously in the interests of justice and the interests of everybody that the matter is determined at the earliest stage," Mr White said.
He ruled Belfast Magistrates Court was in a better position to rule on the two issues raised by Mr Corrigan.
In court today were relatives of some of the victims, including Michael Gallagher whose 21year-old son Aiden died in the Omagh blast.
He said: "It is a very sobering experience to hear all the names of the victims read out, including your only son, and to see the man standing in front of you who is accused of being the perpetrator."
Hoey is already facing 20 other charges which he denies which relate to possessing explosives and conspiracy to cause explosions between 1997 and 1998.
He also faces a charge of Real IRA membership.
Names of 29 victims read out in court
By Jonathan McCambridge
CRIME CORRESPONDENT
HISTORY was made in an Ulster courtroom today when a south Armagh man was accused of murdering the 29 people who died in the worst single terrorist atrocity of the Troubles.
Unemployed electrician Sean Gerard Hoey (35), from Molly Road, Jonesborough, showed no emotion as he was formally charged with 61 offences, including 29 of murder, arising from the bombing of Omagh in August, 1998.
Hoey, dressed in jeans and a brown jumper, stood in the dock of Craigavon Magistrates Court, as the names of the 29 victims were read out to him during the holding of a preliminary enquiry.
As well as 29 murder charges, he was also charged with 25 explosive offences and seven charges of conspiring to murder members of the security forces, all relating to the Omagh blast in August 1998.
Hoey's solicitor, Peter Corrigan, told the court there was "no new evidence" against his client.
He said the prosecution case rested solely on a single witness statement from March 2003 which stated that Hoey "possibly constructed" the Omagh bomb.
He said: "This statement did not say it was certain or likely, or even more likely than not that he constructed the Omagh device, merely that it was possible.
"I would ask the DPP to look at this evidence again as there is no realistic possibility of a conviction."
Mr Corrigan said the only conclusion he could reach was that there were "political considerations" in the charging of his client.
Mr Corrigan asked the court to order the prosecution team to serve the defence with information and details of an international review commission into the Omagh bomb.
Magistrate Alan White refused the application and ordered Hoey to appear at the Laganside courts in Belfast next Tuesday.
"It is obviously in the interests of justice and the interests of everybody that the matter is determined at the earliest stage," Mr White said.
He ruled Belfast Magistrates Court was in a better position to rule on the two issues raised by Mr Corrigan.
In court today were relatives of some of the victims, including Michael Gallagher whose 21year-old son Aiden died in the Omagh blast.
He said: "It is a very sobering experience to hear all the names of the victims read out, including your only son, and to see the man standing in front of you who is accused of being the perpetrator."
Hoey is already facing 20 other charges which he denies which relate to possessing explosives and conspiracy to cause explosions between 1997 and 1998.
He also faces a charge of Real IRA membership.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0964
Published Date: 26-May-05
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