BLACK TAPE 'MYSTERY' IN OMAGH BOMB CASE
Black tape 'mystery' in Omagh bomb case
THE defence in the Omagh bomb trial is to attack DNA evidence on the grounds that exhibits were tampered with, Belfast Crown Court has heard.
DNA evidence being used against 37-year-old electrician Sean Gerard Hoey, who denies the August 1998 Omagh massacre and a catalogue of other terror offences, was produced by a specialist lab in Birmingham.
However, it emerged yesterday that in at least one instance, black tape used by army bomb experts was allegedly placed on the lid of a timer power unit after it had been examined by forensic experts in Northern Ireland.
Asked about the significance of the three strands of black tape by Mr Justice Weir, senior defence QC Orlando Pownall said: "The defence position is that after the examination [by Northern Ireland forensics] an individual or some individuals have introduced black tape into that [exhibit bag] before it went to Birmingham".
Dr Gerard Thomas Murray, Northern Ireland's chief forensic explosives expert, denied he had anything to do with the placing of the black tape, telling the court: "It certainly wasn't me."
He had earlier agreed with the defence that if he had found army tape on the unit in July 1998, he would have noted the fact.
However, in photographs of the same exhibit, taken between his examination and some time up to April 2001, three strands of the black army tape are visible.
Dr Murray, having confirmed he saw no tape during his examination, agreed that he had no explanation as to how the tape should have got onto the exhibit.
At one point Mr Justice Weir suggested it was maybe "a Houdini thing".
The trial continues today with the evidence of a second forensic expert who examined exhibits recovered from several other bombings.
Hoey, of Molly Road, Jonesborough, faces a total of 58 charges.
THE defence in the Omagh bomb trial is to attack DNA evidence on the grounds that exhibits were tampered with, Belfast Crown Court has heard.
DNA evidence being used against 37-year-old electrician Sean Gerard Hoey, who denies the August 1998 Omagh massacre and a catalogue of other terror offences, was produced by a specialist lab in Birmingham.
However, it emerged yesterday that in at least one instance, black tape used by army bomb experts was allegedly placed on the lid of a timer power unit after it had been examined by forensic experts in Northern Ireland.
Asked about the significance of the three strands of black tape by Mr Justice Weir, senior defence QC Orlando Pownall said: "The defence position is that after the examination [by Northern Ireland forensics] an individual or some individuals have introduced black tape into that [exhibit bag] before it went to Birmingham".
Dr Gerard Thomas Murray, Northern Ireland's chief forensic explosives expert, denied he had anything to do with the placing of the black tape, telling the court: "It certainly wasn't me."
He had earlier agreed with the defence that if he had found army tape on the unit in July 1998, he would have noted the fact.
However, in photographs of the same exhibit, taken between his examination and some time up to April 2001, three strands of the black army tape are visible.
Dr Murray, having confirmed he saw no tape during his examination, agreed that he had no explanation as to how the tape should have got onto the exhibit.
At one point Mr Justice Weir suggested it was maybe "a Houdini thing".
The trial continues today with the evidence of a second forensic expert who examined exhibits recovered from several other bombings.
Hoey, of Molly Road, Jonesborough, faces a total of 58 charges.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0811
Published Date: 18-Oct-06
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.