ROW MAY DELAY TRIAL OF OMAGH ACCUSED
Row may delay trial of Omagh accused
By Barry McCaffrey
THE trial of a man charged with the murder of 29 people in the Omagh bomb may be delayed for up to five months in a new row over controversial forensic evidence.
Sean Hoey (36), of Molly Road, Jonesborough, in south Armagh, is due to go on trial on Wednesday charged with the Real IRA bombing of Omagh town centre in August 1998 which killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins.
The unemployed electrician faces 58 bomb charges in all, involving 14 separate dissident republican attacks across the north.
Mr Hoey, pictured, has been held at Maghaberry prison since his arrest in September 2003.
The court case is predicted to be one of the most complicated trials of the Troubles because of the reliance on controversial forensic evidence.
Earlier this summer trial judge Mr Justice Weir threatened to exclude prosecution evidence unless it was shared with Mr Hoey's defence team.
However, The Irish News understands that the trial could now be delayed for another five months because of a new dispute over controversial forensic evidence.
It is understood that prosecution lawyers will ask the trial judge on Monday to be allowed to carry out new forensic tests on tape found at a number of bomb scenes which allegedly connect the accused to the devices.
Until now the prosecution has relied primarily on a controversial forensic test system known as Low Copy Number DNA (LCN DNA) to connect Mr Hoey to the bombs.
Opponents of LCN DNA argue that the magnification of the samples mean they are susceptible to contamination and can not be relied on as evidence.
It is understood that Mr Hoey's defence team will object to the prosecution being allowed to carry out new forensic tests just two days before the opening of the trial.
When contacted yesterday Mr Hoey's solicitor, Peter Corrigan, confirmed that the trial could potentially be delayed by five months.
"It is completely unacceptable that the prosecution are trying to move the goalposts at the last minute because they know that they can't rely on the discredited LCN DNA," he said.
"The prosecution have had three years to try and build a case against my client and now at the last minute they are trying to start all over again.
"We will not accept this and are determined that the trial will go ahead as planned on Wednesday so that our client's name can be cleared."
A Public Prosecution Service spokesman said that it would be inappropriate to comment.
By Barry McCaffrey
THE trial of a man charged with the murder of 29 people in the Omagh bomb may be delayed for up to five months in a new row over controversial forensic evidence.
Sean Hoey (36), of Molly Road, Jonesborough, in south Armagh, is due to go on trial on Wednesday charged with the Real IRA bombing of Omagh town centre in August 1998 which killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins.
The unemployed electrician faces 58 bomb charges in all, involving 14 separate dissident republican attacks across the north.
Mr Hoey, pictured, has been held at Maghaberry prison since his arrest in September 2003.
The court case is predicted to be one of the most complicated trials of the Troubles because of the reliance on controversial forensic evidence.
Earlier this summer trial judge Mr Justice Weir threatened to exclude prosecution evidence unless it was shared with Mr Hoey's defence team.
However, The Irish News understands that the trial could now be delayed for another five months because of a new dispute over controversial forensic evidence.
It is understood that prosecution lawyers will ask the trial judge on Monday to be allowed to carry out new forensic tests on tape found at a number of bomb scenes which allegedly connect the accused to the devices.
Until now the prosecution has relied primarily on a controversial forensic test system known as Low Copy Number DNA (LCN DNA) to connect Mr Hoey to the bombs.
Opponents of LCN DNA argue that the magnification of the samples mean they are susceptible to contamination and can not be relied on as evidence.
It is understood that Mr Hoey's defence team will object to the prosecution being allowed to carry out new forensic tests just two days before the opening of the trial.
When contacted yesterday Mr Hoey's solicitor, Peter Corrigan, confirmed that the trial could potentially be delayed by five months.
"It is completely unacceptable that the prosecution are trying to move the goalposts at the last minute because they know that they can't rely on the discredited LCN DNA," he said.
"The prosecution have had three years to try and build a case against my client and now at the last minute they are trying to start all over again.
"We will not accept this and are determined that the trial will go ahead as planned on Wednesday so that our client's name can be cleared."
A Public Prosecution Service spokesman said that it would be inappropriate to comment.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0798
Published Date: 02-Sep-06
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