MORE DOUBTS ABOUT OMAGH FORENSICS
More doubts about Omagh forensics
THE DNA from Sean Hoey, the south Armagh man accused of the Omagh bombing, may have contaminated evidence in the prosecution case against him.
A top forensic expert admitted to defence lawyers at the Belfast Crown Court trial yesterday that tape taken from Hoey's home was compared with tape recovered from a number of bomb scenes.
Mr Dennis McAuley also admitted that the north's Forensic Science Laboratory has twice had its licence suspended, and five 'Mark 19' timer power units similar to the one used in the Omagh bombing have vanished.
Defence QC Orlando Pownall initially put it to Mr McAuley that three batches of tape were taken from Hoey's home in September 1998, after the Omagh bomb.
The forensic expert then agreed that "it is a rather dangerous pastime" given the tape rolls may contain Hoey's DNA, to then compare them with tape recovered from a crime.
"Even a layman would realise that if someone put tape with Mr Hoey's DNA on it with tape from the scene of a crime there is a risk of contaminating the other," said Mr Pownall.
It also emerged that the first of the tests were carried out within two days of the items being seized from Mr Hoey's home.
Mr McAuley further accepted that he was aware of comparison tests being carried out as he himself "had written a statement on the tape matching". However, at one stage the forensic expert said he was "slightly confused" over some aspects of his evidence as to whether he had or had not seen notes of examinations being carried out and by whom.
"Well if you are confused," said trial judge Mr Justice Weir, "then you may take it I am equally confused". At another stage Mr Justice Weir told Mr McAuley: "Please do not use the words, should, would or could."
The trial judge said that if the witness did not know the answer to a question, he would prefer it was said so. The case has now been adjourned until next month.
THE DNA from Sean Hoey, the south Armagh man accused of the Omagh bombing, may have contaminated evidence in the prosecution case against him.
A top forensic expert admitted to defence lawyers at the Belfast Crown Court trial yesterday that tape taken from Hoey's home was compared with tape recovered from a number of bomb scenes.
Mr Dennis McAuley also admitted that the north's Forensic Science Laboratory has twice had its licence suspended, and five 'Mark 19' timer power units similar to the one used in the Omagh bombing have vanished.
Defence QC Orlando Pownall initially put it to Mr McAuley that three batches of tape were taken from Hoey's home in September 1998, after the Omagh bomb.
The forensic expert then agreed that "it is a rather dangerous pastime" given the tape rolls may contain Hoey's DNA, to then compare them with tape recovered from a crime.
"Even a layman would realise that if someone put tape with Mr Hoey's DNA on it with tape from the scene of a crime there is a risk of contaminating the other," said Mr Pownall.
It also emerged that the first of the tests were carried out within two days of the items being seized from Mr Hoey's home.
Mr McAuley further accepted that he was aware of comparison tests being carried out as he himself "had written a statement on the tape matching". However, at one stage the forensic expert said he was "slightly confused" over some aspects of his evidence as to whether he had or had not seen notes of examinations being carried out and by whom.
"Well if you are confused," said trial judge Mr Justice Weir, "then you may take it I am equally confused". At another stage Mr Justice Weir told Mr McAuley: "Please do not use the words, should, would or could."
The trial judge said that if the witness did not know the answer to a question, he would prefer it was said so. The case has now been adjourned until next month.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/1027
Published Date: 27-Oct-06
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.