TRIAL HALTS TO PINPOINT WORDING OF 999 CALLS
Trial halts to pinpoint wording of 999 calls
THE Diplock judge hearing the trial of alleged Omagh bomber Sean Hoey yesterday adjourned the trial to allow the Crown time to ascertain the exact wording of the 999 and bomb warning calls made.
Mr Justice Weir told the Belfast Crown Court trial he wanted "to have the terms" of a number of calls correct and said: "If there is one thing that this case has taught me it's that it is better, where confirmatory material is available, to use it".
He asked Ciaran Murphy QC prosecuting if it was possible for the Crown and defence legal teams to collaborate in an effort to agree a transcript of the recorded calls and if not, "we will play them to the court and make our own minds up".
The judge's call came after he heard how a Samaritan volunteer telephoned 999 after receiving a bomb warning on Saturday August 15 1998, telling the officer she had been told there was a bomb "in the centre of Omagh, about 200 yards from the courthouse" but that when the officer, Constable Gary Murphy relays the message to Omagh RUC Station, he tells them it is in "Omagh town centre" and gives the approximate distance.
Mr Justice Weir asked if it was possible to check "if he passed on the wrong message" and added: "It might be quite important to know what the policeman in Coleraine told the policeman in Omagh".
Telling the Crown he wanted to be able to trace the calls from their original source, through 999 command and control and onto what "the men on the ground" were told, Mr Justice Weir suggested to Mr Murphy and to Orlando Pownall, QC defending that it might be better to adjourn this aspect of the case to allow further investigations to be made.
Sean Hoey (37) denies 58 terrorist related charges, including the Omagh atrocity. The case continues.
THE Diplock judge hearing the trial of alleged Omagh bomber Sean Hoey yesterday adjourned the trial to allow the Crown time to ascertain the exact wording of the 999 and bomb warning calls made.
Mr Justice Weir told the Belfast Crown Court trial he wanted "to have the terms" of a number of calls correct and said: "If there is one thing that this case has taught me it's that it is better, where confirmatory material is available, to use it".
He asked Ciaran Murphy QC prosecuting if it was possible for the Crown and defence legal teams to collaborate in an effort to agree a transcript of the recorded calls and if not, "we will play them to the court and make our own minds up".
The judge's call came after he heard how a Samaritan volunteer telephoned 999 after receiving a bomb warning on Saturday August 15 1998, telling the officer she had been told there was a bomb "in the centre of Omagh, about 200 yards from the courthouse" but that when the officer, Constable Gary Murphy relays the message to Omagh RUC Station, he tells them it is in "Omagh town centre" and gives the approximate distance.
Mr Justice Weir asked if it was possible to check "if he passed on the wrong message" and added: "It might be quite important to know what the policeman in Coleraine told the policeman in Omagh".
Telling the Crown he wanted to be able to trace the calls from their original source, through 999 command and control and onto what "the men on the ground" were told, Mr Justice Weir suggested to Mr Murphy and to Orlando Pownall, QC defending that it might be better to adjourn this aspect of the case to allow further investigations to be made.
Sean Hoey (37) denies 58 terrorist related charges, including the Omagh atrocity. The case continues.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0809
Published Date: 14-Oct-06
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