OMAGH BOMB ACCUSED SPEAKS
EXCLUSIVE: In his first interview Sean Hoey backs calls for a public inquiry
Omagh bomb accused speaks
By Barry McCaffrey
THE south Armagh man dramatically acquitted of the Omagh bombing has spoken publicly for the first time, supporting victims' families calls for a public inquiry into the worst atrocity of the Troubles.
Sean Hoey (38) walked free from a Belfast court last month after being cleared of a series of Real IRA bombings including the devastating attack on Omagh town centre which killed 29 people and two unborn children in August 1998.
Mr Justice Weir was highly critical of the original RUC investigation into the murders and major failures to protect forensic evidence.
Following the collapse of the case Omagh families have demanded that the British and Irish governments establish a public inquiry into the atrocity.
Speaking last night for the first time since his acquittal, Mr Hoey insisted he "fully endorsed" their campaign.
"The Omagh families and my own family deserve to know the full truth and only a proper cross-border public inquiry will get to the truth," he said.
"I want to know what the British and Irish governments are afraid of from an inquiry."
The republican rejected speculation that he plans to sue several of the Omagh families over media reports questioning his acquittal.
"I have no intention of adding to the hurt and pain that the Omagh families have already been put through over the last 10 years," Mr Hoey said.
"I have been fully cleared by the courts and would ask that people respect that.
"All I want now is to get on with rebuilding my life."
However, Mr Hoey, an electrician from Jonesborough in south Armagh, said he remains angry that he was forced to stand trial.
"If it hadn't been for the dedication of my legal team and the support of family and friends I could easily have been spending the rest of my life behind bars for something I had absolutely nothing to do with," he said.
"People only have to look at the judge's verdict to see there was a concerted campaign of falsified police statements and discredited forensic evidence used to try and make me a scapegoat for Omagh."
Mr Hoey spent four years in jail as Northern Ireland's longest serving remand prisoner.
"I lost four years of my life sitting in a jail cell charged with something I had absolutely nothing to do with," he said.
"My sons were just six months and four years old when I was taken away from them.
"It's hard to explain to your children that their daddy has done nothing wrong even though they have to visit him in a prison every week.
"They've grown up without a father for four years.
"I know that's nothing to what the Omagh families have gone through.
"I could never begin to understand the tragedy that the Omagh families have gone through.
"All I can say is that I had nothing to do with Omagh and that I fully support their calls for a public inquiry."
Omagh bomb accused speaks
By Barry McCaffrey
THE south Armagh man dramatically acquitted of the Omagh bombing has spoken publicly for the first time, supporting victims' families calls for a public inquiry into the worst atrocity of the Troubles.
Sean Hoey (38) walked free from a Belfast court last month after being cleared of a series of Real IRA bombings including the devastating attack on Omagh town centre which killed 29 people and two unborn children in August 1998.
Mr Justice Weir was highly critical of the original RUC investigation into the murders and major failures to protect forensic evidence.
Following the collapse of the case Omagh families have demanded that the British and Irish governments establish a public inquiry into the atrocity.
Speaking last night for the first time since his acquittal, Mr Hoey insisted he "fully endorsed" their campaign.
"The Omagh families and my own family deserve to know the full truth and only a proper cross-border public inquiry will get to the truth," he said.
"I want to know what the British and Irish governments are afraid of from an inquiry."
The republican rejected speculation that he plans to sue several of the Omagh families over media reports questioning his acquittal.
"I have no intention of adding to the hurt and pain that the Omagh families have already been put through over the last 10 years," Mr Hoey said.
"I have been fully cleared by the courts and would ask that people respect that.
"All I want now is to get on with rebuilding my life."
However, Mr Hoey, an electrician from Jonesborough in south Armagh, said he remains angry that he was forced to stand trial.
"If it hadn't been for the dedication of my legal team and the support of family and friends I could easily have been spending the rest of my life behind bars for something I had absolutely nothing to do with," he said.
"People only have to look at the judge's verdict to see there was a concerted campaign of falsified police statements and discredited forensic evidence used to try and make me a scapegoat for Omagh."
Mr Hoey spent four years in jail as Northern Ireland's longest serving remand prisoner.
"I lost four years of my life sitting in a jail cell charged with something I had absolutely nothing to do with," he said.
"My sons were just six months and four years old when I was taken away from them.
"It's hard to explain to your children that their daddy has done nothing wrong even though they have to visit him in a prison every week.
"They've grown up without a father for four years.
"I know that's nothing to what the Omagh families have gone through.
"I could never begin to understand the tragedy that the Omagh families have gone through.
"All I can say is that I had nothing to do with Omagh and that I fully support their calls for a public inquiry."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0883
Published Date: 03-Jan-08
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