LAWYER IN DANDO CASE SET TO DEFEND OMAGH BOMB SUSPECT
Lawyer in Dando case set to defend Omagh bomb suspect
By Barry McCaffrey
ALLEGED Omagh bomb maker Sean Hoey will be defended by the man who sent Jill Dando's killer to jail, it emerged last night. Orlando Pownall QC will represent unemployed electrician Sean Hoey when the Omagh bomb trial starts in Belfast today.
The 36-year-old is charged with making the Real IRA car bomb which exploded in Omagh town centre on August 15 1998, killing 29 people and injuring 200 other people.
It is believed to be the first time that Mr Pownall (54), regarded as one of Britain's leading QCs, has worked in Northern Ireland.
The trial is expected to last up to four months and will include the calling of 500 witnesses.
The case is predicted to be one of the most complicated trials of the Troubles because of the reliance on controversial forensic evidence.
Trial judge Mr Justice Weir yesterday agreed to allow a video link between the trial in Belfast and a suitable location in Omagh.
Earlier this week the prosecution team took the unusual move of asking to be allowed to retest forensic evidence just two days before the start of the trial.
Until then the prosecution had relied primarily on a controversial forensic test system known as Low Copy Number DNA (LCN DNA) to connect 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.
Hoey is at present the longest serving remand prisoner in Northern Ireland, having been held in Maghaberry prison since his arrest in September 2003.
Mr Pownall has been leading defence barrister in a series of the most high profile trials in Britain in recent years, including defending one of those charged with the murder of Damilola Taylor.
In 2001 he ted the prosecution case against Barry George, found guilty of the 1999 murder of BBC Crimewatch presenter Jill Dando.
That case was back in the spotlight this week after a leading firearms' expert raised concerns over the forensic evidence used to convict George of Ms Dando's murder.
In 2003 Mr Pownall also successfully convicted Nadine Milroy-Sloane who alleged that she had been sexually assaulted by former Tory MP Neil Hamilton and his wife Christine.
In the same year he led the prosecution case which saw five Northern Ireland men jailed for up to 20 years each for a Real IRA bombing campaign in Britain.
The prosecution team against Hoey will be led by eminent Northern Ireland barrister Gordon Kerr QC.
By Barry McCaffrey
ALLEGED Omagh bomb maker Sean Hoey will be defended by the man who sent Jill Dando's killer to jail, it emerged last night. Orlando Pownall QC will represent unemployed electrician Sean Hoey when the Omagh bomb trial starts in Belfast today.
The 36-year-old is charged with making the Real IRA car bomb which exploded in Omagh town centre on August 15 1998, killing 29 people and injuring 200 other people.
It is believed to be the first time that Mr Pownall (54), regarded as one of Britain's leading QCs, has worked in Northern Ireland.
The trial is expected to last up to four months and will include the calling of 500 witnesses.
The case is predicted to be one of the most complicated trials of the Troubles because of the reliance on controversial forensic evidence.
Trial judge Mr Justice Weir yesterday agreed to allow a video link between the trial in Belfast and a suitable location in Omagh.
Earlier this week the prosecution team took the unusual move of asking to be allowed to retest forensic evidence just two days before the start of the trial.
Until then the prosecution had relied primarily on a controversial forensic test system known as Low Copy Number DNA (LCN DNA) to connect 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.
Hoey is at present the longest serving remand prisoner in Northern Ireland, having been held in Maghaberry prison since his arrest in September 2003.
Mr Pownall has been leading defence barrister in a series of the most high profile trials in Britain in recent years, including defending one of those charged with the murder of Damilola Taylor.
In 2001 he ted the prosecution case against Barry George, found guilty of the 1999 murder of BBC Crimewatch presenter Jill Dando.
That case was back in the spotlight this week after a leading firearms' expert raised concerns over the forensic evidence used to convict George of Ms Dando's murder.
In 2003 Mr Pownall also successfully convicted Nadine Milroy-Sloane who alleged that she had been sexually assaulted by former Tory MP Neil Hamilton and his wife Christine.
In the same year he led the prosecution case which saw five Northern Ireland men jailed for up to 20 years each for a Real IRA bombing campaign in Britain.
The prosecution team against Hoey will be led by eminent Northern Ireland barrister Gordon Kerr QC.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0799
Published Date: 06-Sep-06
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