JUDGE DISMISSES OMAGH SUSPECT'S LEGAL CHALLENGE
Judge dismisses Omagh suspect's legal challenge
THE trial of the man charged with the Omagh bomb atrocity should go ahead in September, a judge ruled yesterday.
Confirmation that Sean Hoey (36) should stand trial came when a judge threw out an application by lawyers acting for the electrician that the charges he is facing should be dropped.
In a ruling at Belfast Crown Court, Mr Justice Weir said he had carefully considered submissions made by both the defence and the Crown during a No Bills Application.
He added that he had decided there was a case to answer and the charges should stand.
Hoey stood in the dock and formally pleaded not guilty to 29 charges of murdering the victims of the Real IRA car bomb attack in the Co Tyrone market town in August 1998.
Hoey faces a total of 58 charges relating to the Omagh bomb massacre and a series of other terrorist strikes across Northern Ireland at around the same period.
As well as murder, he pleaded not guilty to a series of charges including conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to cause an explosion, causing an explosion and possession of explosives with intent.
Hoey, who has been in custody for nearly three years, was again remanded in custody.
Mr Justice Weir told lawyers representing both Crown and defence that he wanted no slippage in plans for the trial to start in September.
He told them: "I expect anything that needs to be attended to be at tended to in the next month or so."
The case was lifted for a review on June 2 to ensure there are not any problems to prevent a September start.
THE trial of the man charged with the Omagh bomb atrocity should go ahead in September, a judge ruled yesterday.
Confirmation that Sean Hoey (36) should stand trial came when a judge threw out an application by lawyers acting for the electrician that the charges he is facing should be dropped.
In a ruling at Belfast Crown Court, Mr Justice Weir said he had carefully considered submissions made by both the defence and the Crown during a No Bills Application.
He added that he had decided there was a case to answer and the charges should stand.
Hoey stood in the dock and formally pleaded not guilty to 29 charges of murdering the victims of the Real IRA car bomb attack in the Co Tyrone market town in August 1998.
Hoey faces a total of 58 charges relating to the Omagh bomb massacre and a series of other terrorist strikes across Northern Ireland at around the same period.
As well as murder, he pleaded not guilty to a series of charges including conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to cause an explosion, causing an explosion and possession of explosives with intent.
Hoey, who has been in custody for nearly three years, was again remanded in custody.
Mr Justice Weir told lawyers representing both Crown and defence that he wanted no slippage in plans for the trial to start in September.
He told them: "I expect anything that needs to be attended to be at tended to in the next month or so."
The case was lifted for a review on June 2 to ensure there are not any problems to prevent a September start.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/1007
Published Date: 29-Apr-06
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.