BT/1013

Eight years later, Omagh trial begins
- but biggest mass murder case is then adjourned
BY JONATHAN McCAMBRIDGE
CRIME CORRESPONDENT

THE trial of the man accused of killing 29 people and injuring hundreds in the Omagh bomb massacre was dramatically halted today before it had begun.
South Armagh electrician Sean Hoey (36), appeared in the dock accused of carrying out the biggest single atrocity of The Troubles as well as a multitude of other Real IRA offences.
However, the case was adjourned immediately when defence barrister, Orlando Pownall QC, told the court that he was unwell and had attended against the advice of doctors.
Mr Justice Weir described this morning's events as "unsatisfactory" but refused to open the case until further details of Mr Pownall's condition were known. He adjourned the case until September 18 but asked for the court to be kept updated.
Relatives of several Omagh victims had travelled to Belfast Crown Court today.
The trial is expected to take in excess of four months and efforts are being made to set up a video link so proceedings can be beamed live to a location in Omagh so the families do not have to travel to Belfast.
The no-warning 5001b Omagh bomb ripped through the Tyrone town in August 1998, killing 29 people, including the mother of unborn twins, and injuring hundreds.
The Hoey case is expected to be one of the last major non-jury terrorist trials in Northern Ireland. The accused, who has been in custody for three years, denies all the offences.
The prosecution case is largely built around forensic evidence allegedly uncovered from Low Copy Number DNA testing.
However, as recently as yesterday new forensic tests were still being carried out on evidence.
When evidence at the trial is finally heard, it will be a harrowing ordeal for the Omagh families who have campaigned for justice for eight years.
Victor Barker, whose son died in the blast, said: "It has been some time coming. We have been waiting for this for years and now the day is here, it has been a long road. Now we have to let justice take its course. It is a tragedy that it has taken this long and at the end of it we have only one person going on trial."
Michael Gallagher, who also lost his son in the atrocity, said: "This is just another step in the fight for justice. Once we get this out of the way then we can concentrate on our civil case and a public inquiry into Omagh."
Stanley McCombe, who lost his wife Ann, added: "It's a day I have been waiting for, but yet I'm not looking forward to going near the court. It's going to be tough watching somebody who is accused of being one of the instigators."
Hoey, of Molly Road, Jonesborough, who wore a beige jacket and open neck shirt, faces a total of 58 charges relating not only to the Omagh bomb atrocity, but to six other murder conspiracies, five bombings, four bomb conspiracies, and the possession of explosives including timer power units and mortar bombs.
The six murder conspiracies against members of the security forces were allegedly planned for Blackwaterstown Road, Armagh, Altmore Forest, Dungannon, The G30 Military Base, Crossmaglen, and Forkhill RUC/Army Base, Belleek RUC Station and Newry RUC Station.
Hoey also denies and is charged with possessing bomb timer power units and causing mortar bomb explosions at Crossmaglen, Forkhill, Belleek and Newry RUC Station.
He is also accused of causing explosions at Banbridge and Finaghy Halt Railway Station and with conspiring to cause explosions, and possession of explosives at Blackwaterstown Road, Armagh, and at Market Street, Lisburn, Newry Road, Armagh, and Newry courthouse.
All the offences are alleged to have occurred on dates in 1997 and 1998.
Victor Barker said that following the original police investigation into the bombing, many of the relatives did not believe that anybody would ever face charges and be brought before a court.
A damning report by Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan was heavily critical of the initial police inquiry and the then Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan.
Warnings from two informants in the days before Omagh that a terrorist attack was planned for Northern Ireland . were not properly followed up, she found.
Mr Barker said: "There was a network of people responsible for Omagh.
"If it has taken police eight years to bring one person before court then we are not very hopeful that there will ever be anybody else charged.
"If the original police investigation had been carried out in the way it should have been then we would not be in the position we are eight years on. That is why we are pushing for a public inquiry."
The prosecution case in the massive trial is being led by Gordon Kerr QC, assisted by Ciaran Murphy QC and Neil Connor.
Defence counsel Mr Pownall QC is assisted by Kieran Vaughan and Martin O'Rourke.
Mr Pownall is one of the best known QCs in the UK and helped to send Barry George to jail for the 1999 murder of TV personality Jill Dando.
This is believed to be the first time that Mr Pownall has worked in Northern Ireland.