OMAGH BOMB ACCUSED MAY CALL FBI AGENT
Omagh bomb accused may call FBI agent
By Barry McCaffrey
SOLICITORS for a Co Armagh man accused of making the Omagh bomb say they will call an FBI agent as a defence witness to prove their client's innocence.
Electrician Sean Hoey (36) of Molly Road, Jonesborough in south Armagh denies charges that he made a series of Real IRA bombs, including a device which killed 29 people, including a pregnant woman with twins, in Omagh in August 1998.
However Mr Hoey's solicitors say they have informed the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) that they want to interview FBI agent David Rupert over claims that he had informed the security services of the identity of the Real IRA's bomb makers at that time.
Earlier this month it was claimed that MI5 had failed to pass on information to the RUC that the Real IRA planned to target Derry and Omagh in April 1998.
PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde later denied that MI5 had failed to pass on relevant information about the Omagh bomb, stating that the information had related to another Real IRA unit.
Hoey's solicitors say they want to interview Mr Rupert over claims he identified the Real IRA's chief bomb makers to his handlers at that time.
It is understood the electrician was not among those named by the FBI agent as the Real IRA's bombmakers.
Solicitor Peter Corrigan said: "I have written to the PPS to ask them to make arrangements so that we can speak to Mr Rupert and view the evidence which was passed to MI5.
"We believe Mr Rupert may have passed on material to the intelligence services which can prove that my client was not involved in the making of the TPUs [timer power units] used by the Real IRA at the time of the Omagh bomb." Mr Hoey's trial is not expected to begin until October.
By Barry McCaffrey
SOLICITORS for a Co Armagh man accused of making the Omagh bomb say they will call an FBI agent as a defence witness to prove their client's innocence.
Electrician Sean Hoey (36) of Molly Road, Jonesborough in south Armagh denies charges that he made a series of Real IRA bombs, including a device which killed 29 people, including a pregnant woman with twins, in Omagh in August 1998.
However Mr Hoey's solicitors say they have informed the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) that they want to interview FBI agent David Rupert over claims that he had informed the security services of the identity of the Real IRA's bomb makers at that time.
Earlier this month it was claimed that MI5 had failed to pass on information to the RUC that the Real IRA planned to target Derry and Omagh in April 1998.
PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde later denied that MI5 had failed to pass on relevant information about the Omagh bomb, stating that the information had related to another Real IRA unit.
Hoey's solicitors say they want to interview Mr Rupert over claims he identified the Real IRA's chief bomb makers to his handlers at that time.
It is understood the electrician was not among those named by the FBI agent as the Real IRA's bombmakers.
Solicitor Peter Corrigan said: "I have written to the PPS to ask them to make arrangements so that we can speak to Mr Rupert and view the evidence which was passed to MI5.
"We believe Mr Rupert may have passed on material to the intelligence services which can prove that my client was not involved in the making of the TPUs [timer power units] used by the Real IRA at the time of the Omagh bomb." Mr Hoey's trial is not expected to begin until October.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0780
Published Date: 03-Mar-06
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