DNA EVIDENCE LINKING MAN TO BOMBINGS CHALLENGED
DNA evidence linking man to bombings challenged IT u
DNA used to link Sean Hoey to a Republican bombing campaign in the North may have been transferred via a contaminated examination table, a court heard yesterday.
American forensic expert Professor Dan Krane told Belfast Crown Court that the incriminating material could have been spread to bomb components during processing at a laboratory.
Mr Hoey (37) has been linked by prosecutors to a number of devices including one defused in Lisburn, near Belfast, in 1998. His DNA was allegedly found on that device. But Mr Krane told the court: "If the item of Mr Hoey's was on a table top, for instance, removed and subsequently these seized items came on to the table top... it could result in a transfer."
Mr Hoey, Molly Road, Jonesborough, Co Armagh, denies 58 charges including the murder of 29 people in the 1998 Omagh bombing.
Mr Krane, a witness called by the defence team, specialises in Low Copy Number (LCN) DNA, a relatively new identifying material being used by prosecutors to
incriminate Mr Hoey. Mr Hoey's profiles were also found using the technique at Armagh city and Blackwatertown in 1998 and Alt-more Forest Park, Co Tyrone, in 2001.
Prosecutor Gordon Kerr QC told the court: "Can I suggest to you that somehow there was a source of Mr Hoey's DNA on PN5 [the timer power unit] ... That the only likely explanation apart from a fanciful one is that there was a source of Mr Hoey's DNA in or on PN5 for that to happen."
The trial is expected to continue for several weeks. - (PA)
DNA used to link Sean Hoey to a Republican bombing campaign in the North may have been transferred via a contaminated examination table, a court heard yesterday.
American forensic expert Professor Dan Krane told Belfast Crown Court that the incriminating material could have been spread to bomb components during processing at a laboratory.
Mr Hoey (37) has been linked by prosecutors to a number of devices including one defused in Lisburn, near Belfast, in 1998. His DNA was allegedly found on that device. But Mr Krane told the court: "If the item of Mr Hoey's was on a table top, for instance, removed and subsequently these seized items came on to the table top... it could result in a transfer."
Mr Hoey, Molly Road, Jonesborough, Co Armagh, denies 58 charges including the murder of 29 people in the 1998 Omagh bombing.
Mr Krane, a witness called by the defence team, specialises in Low Copy Number (LCN) DNA, a relatively new identifying material being used by prosecutors to
incriminate Mr Hoey. Mr Hoey's profiles were also found using the technique at Armagh city and Blackwatertown in 1998 and Alt-more Forest Park, Co Tyrone, in 2001.
Prosecutor Gordon Kerr QC told the court: "Can I suggest to you that somehow there was a source of Mr Hoey's DNA on PN5 [the timer power unit] ... That the only likely explanation apart from a fanciful one is that there was a source of Mr Hoey's DNA in or on PN5 for that to happen."
The trial is expected to continue for several weeks. - (PA)
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH TIMES
Ref: IT/442
Published Date: 16-Nov-06
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