OMAGH JUDGE CALL FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS
Omagh judge call for public hearings
THE judge in charge of the multi-million pound Omagh bomb compensation case has pledged to prevent hearings becoming cloaked in secrecy.
Mr Justice Morgan urged both sides in the landmark civil action at the High Court in Belfast to ensure proceedings remain as open as possible.
His call came as lawyers for victims' relatives - who are suing five men they blame for the Real IRA atrocity which claimed the lives of 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins - revealed plans to take evidence from more gardai.
Twenty-three Garda witnesses have already been lined up for when the case moves to Dublin next month.
But Brett Lockhart QC, for the families, told the court an application would be made to hear from more officers.
It is understood another six gardai and further civilian witnesses have been identified.
Day four of the case continued yesterday against convicted Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt along with Seamus McKenna, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly.
The day centred on experts due to give evidence about mobile phones allegedly used by the bomb team before and after the explosives were driven into Omagh on August 15, 1998.
After discussions on what testimonies and statements can be heard in court or simply read by the judge in the non-jury action, Mr Justice Morgan stressed that as much as possible should be delivered openly.
"This is a public trial and we have to be careful not to turn it into a private trial," he said.
At one stage Brian Fee QC, for McKenna, told the court it may be weeks before the expert brought in by his client, Daly and Murphy could be fully prepared for all the telephone evidence in the case.
But Lord Brennan QC, who is heading the victims' legal team, vowed to "vigorously resist" taking so long to prepare a report.
His warning received a reply that the expert originally brought in by the defendants had suffered a heart attack.
Later, further statements were read from some of those who saw the maroon Vauxhall Cavalier packed with a 5001b bomb as it was driven by two men and parked on Market Street in the centre of Omagh.
Darren Grey, the assistant manager of a nearby jeweller's store, told what he saw on the day.
"He looked to me to be closing it either very gently or locking it with the door handle upwards," he said.
Mr Gray, who was later evacuated in the bomb warning, also recalled how he was flung to the ground by the blast along with friends and colleagues.
He suffered cuts and a burst eardrum in the explosion, and told of seeing the bomb car looking like an engine on fire.
"I remember thinking the man that was at the maroon car was dead," he said.
The trial was adjourned until Monday.
THE judge in charge of the multi-million pound Omagh bomb compensation case has pledged to prevent hearings becoming cloaked in secrecy.
Mr Justice Morgan urged both sides in the landmark civil action at the High Court in Belfast to ensure proceedings remain as open as possible.
His call came as lawyers for victims' relatives - who are suing five men they blame for the Real IRA atrocity which claimed the lives of 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins - revealed plans to take evidence from more gardai.
Twenty-three Garda witnesses have already been lined up for when the case moves to Dublin next month.
But Brett Lockhart QC, for the families, told the court an application would be made to hear from more officers.
It is understood another six gardai and further civilian witnesses have been identified.
Day four of the case continued yesterday against convicted Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt along with Seamus McKenna, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly.
The day centred on experts due to give evidence about mobile phones allegedly used by the bomb team before and after the explosives were driven into Omagh on August 15, 1998.
After discussions on what testimonies and statements can be heard in court or simply read by the judge in the non-jury action, Mr Justice Morgan stressed that as much as possible should be delivered openly.
"This is a public trial and we have to be careful not to turn it into a private trial," he said.
At one stage Brian Fee QC, for McKenna, told the court it may be weeks before the expert brought in by his client, Daly and Murphy could be fully prepared for all the telephone evidence in the case.
But Lord Brennan QC, who is heading the victims' legal team, vowed to "vigorously resist" taking so long to prepare a report.
His warning received a reply that the expert originally brought in by the defendants had suffered a heart attack.
Later, further statements were read from some of those who saw the maroon Vauxhall Cavalier packed with a 5001b bomb as it was driven by two men and parked on Market Street in the centre of Omagh.
Darren Grey, the assistant manager of a nearby jeweller's store, told what he saw on the day.
"He looked to me to be closing it either very gently or locking it with the door handle upwards," he said.
Mr Gray, who was later evacuated in the bomb warning, also recalled how he was flung to the ground by the blast along with friends and colleagues.
He suffered cuts and a burst eardrum in the explosion, and told of seeing the bomb car looking like an engine on fire.
"I remember thinking the man that was at the maroon car was dead," he said.
The trial was adjourned until Monday.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0917
Published Date: 11-Apr-08
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