OMAGH FORENSICS 'CASUAL APPROACH'
Omagh forensics 'casual approach'
THE former chief executive and director of the north's Forensic Science Laboratory, Dr Richard Adams, may have touched the box containing the timer power unit (TPU) of the Omagh bomb, Belfast Crown Court was told yesterday.
In an email from Dr Adams to Dr Ruth Griffen, who headed the forensic review into the Omagh case, he also hinted that others were shown "these things".
Dr Griffen was being questioned by a defence lawyer for Sean Hoey (37), the south Armagh electrician from Molly Road, Jonesborough who denies a total of 58 terrorist charges including the 1998 Omagh bomb murders in 1998.
He produced Dr Adams's email to her in which he stated that he was shown the "bit of TPU box" and while he did not remember "touching anything" he added "but who knows?".
Dr Griffen said whoever was present certainly would have been wearing lab coats but she did not know whether they were wearing gloves.
"However, the fact one touches items with gloves on does not preclude the transfer of DNA," she said.
Dr Griffen disagreed that the email was another demonstration of a "casual approach" taken by the forensic science lab in attempting to preserve the integrity of exhibits.
The trial continues.
THE former chief executive and director of the north's Forensic Science Laboratory, Dr Richard Adams, may have touched the box containing the timer power unit (TPU) of the Omagh bomb, Belfast Crown Court was told yesterday.
In an email from Dr Adams to Dr Ruth Griffen, who headed the forensic review into the Omagh case, he also hinted that others were shown "these things".
Dr Griffen was being questioned by a defence lawyer for Sean Hoey (37), the south Armagh electrician from Molly Road, Jonesborough who denies a total of 58 terrorist charges including the 1998 Omagh bomb murders in 1998.
He produced Dr Adams's email to her in which he stated that he was shown the "bit of TPU box" and while he did not remember "touching anything" he added "but who knows?".
Dr Griffen said whoever was present certainly would have been wearing lab coats but she did not know whether they were wearing gloves.
"However, the fact one touches items with gloves on does not preclude the transfer of DNA," she said.
Dr Griffen disagreed that the email was another demonstration of a "casual approach" taken by the forensic science lab in attempting to preserve the integrity of exhibits.
The trial continues.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0818
Published Date: 22-Nov-06
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