OMAGH: HOEY TO STAND TRIAL
Omagh: Hoey to stand trial
Magistrate: He has case to answer
By Claire Regan
SOUTH Armagh man Sean Hoey was today committed for trial for the murders of the 29 people killed in the Omagh bomb atrocity.
Belfast magistrate Desmond Perry decided this morning that, after hearing three days of preliminary evidence, there is sufficient evidence for 36-year-old Sean Hoey to stand trial on 58 of 61 charges he was faced with.
The charges are linked to a Real IRA bombing campaign which was carried out in 1998 and included the bombing of Omagh in which 29 people and two unborn children were killed and hundreds injured.
Michael and Patsy Gallagher, whose son Aidan died in the August 15 atrocity, and Lawrence Rushe, who lost his wife Libby, were among those who packed into the public gallery to hear the decision that Hoey will face trial.
Mr Perry said that he had been asked by the Crown to "look at the cumulative effect of a huge quantity of evidence that Hoey was definitely the man who manufactured 14 devices, the most devastating of which decimated the centre of Omagh resulting in the tragic death of 29 innocent people."
Mr Perry pointed to evidence given by forensic experts throughout the committal proceedings relating to "significant" DNA and fibre findings which linked Hoey, from Molly Road, Jonesborough, to the devices.
Mr Perry decided to drop three charges relating to a device found in the Devonshire Place area of Belfast because of lack of evidence.
'I am satisfied on all other charges that there is a case to answer," he concluded.
Speaking after the hearing, Michael Gallagher said: "We are very relieved that we have now finally reached a point where a trial can start. However, this has been a long and difficult road to get here.
"There were a large number of people involved in the Omagh bombing and we are determined to continue to press the Irish government to bring those people living in their jurisdiction to justice.
"This crime was planned and prepared for in the Republic before being delivered to Omagh."
Magistrate: He has case to answer
By Claire Regan
SOUTH Armagh man Sean Hoey was today committed for trial for the murders of the 29 people killed in the Omagh bomb atrocity.
Belfast magistrate Desmond Perry decided this morning that, after hearing three days of preliminary evidence, there is sufficient evidence for 36-year-old Sean Hoey to stand trial on 58 of 61 charges he was faced with.
The charges are linked to a Real IRA bombing campaign which was carried out in 1998 and included the bombing of Omagh in which 29 people and two unborn children were killed and hundreds injured.
Michael and Patsy Gallagher, whose son Aidan died in the August 15 atrocity, and Lawrence Rushe, who lost his wife Libby, were among those who packed into the public gallery to hear the decision that Hoey will face trial.
Mr Perry said that he had been asked by the Crown to "look at the cumulative effect of a huge quantity of evidence that Hoey was definitely the man who manufactured 14 devices, the most devastating of which decimated the centre of Omagh resulting in the tragic death of 29 innocent people."
Mr Perry pointed to evidence given by forensic experts throughout the committal proceedings relating to "significant" DNA and fibre findings which linked Hoey, from Molly Road, Jonesborough, to the devices.
Mr Perry decided to drop three charges relating to a device found in the Devonshire Place area of Belfast because of lack of evidence.
'I am satisfied on all other charges that there is a case to answer," he concluded.
Speaking after the hearing, Michael Gallagher said: "We are very relieved that we have now finally reached a point where a trial can start. However, this has been a long and difficult road to get here.
"There were a large number of people involved in the Omagh bombing and we are determined to continue to press the Irish government to bring those people living in their jurisdiction to justice.
"This crime was planned and prepared for in the Republic before being delivered to Omagh."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0977
Published Date: 02-Sep-05
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