RESPECT FOR OMAGH JUDICIAL PROCESS URGED
Respect for Omagh judicial process urged
DAN KEENAN,
NORTHERN NEWS EDITOR
The father of one of the victims of the Omagh bombing in 1998 has appealed for political representatives and the public to await the verdict in the trial of Sean Hoey, who is accused of the bombing.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was one of the 29 people killed in the Real IRA blast, said he was aware Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has been critical of
Mr Hoey's trial.
Sinn Fein has not issued any formal public statement on the conduct of the Omagh trial. However, Mr Adams has commented on the conduct of the trial at some of the public meetings organised by his party to discuss Sinn Fein endorsement of the police and the judicial system in Northern Ireland.
A party spokesman said issue had been raised at some of the public meetings and Mr Adams had replied in that context.
Mr Gallagher, who is spokesman for many of the Omagh victims' families, said last night that regardless of what opinions people may have, the judicial process had to be respected until its conclusion.
"I sat for 56 days through the trial. Sean Hoey had the best defence money could buy and DNA exerts came from the US at the request of defence. I think he had a fair and thorough trial."
He admitted that many relatives of those who died had "concerns about the trial".
"We will raise these with the secretary of state and the chief constable at the appropriate time." He said he would be very surprised that someone would describe the court proceedings as a "show trial".
"That would be an attack on the courts and shouldn't be said by people of the standing of Gerry Adams who is bringing people from a dark period into a more democratic society."
The judiciary is one of the cornerstones of a democratic society, he said.
"At the moment the Sean Hoey trial is not over. The court proceedings have ended but the trial has not. We should wait anc respect the court and see whai the verdict is."
The verdict in the trial, carried out in a no-jury Diplock court, its not expected for some weeks.
DAN KEENAN,
NORTHERN NEWS EDITOR
The father of one of the victims of the Omagh bombing in 1998 has appealed for political representatives and the public to await the verdict in the trial of Sean Hoey, who is accused of the bombing.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was one of the 29 people killed in the Real IRA blast, said he was aware Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has been critical of
Mr Hoey's trial.
Sinn Fein has not issued any formal public statement on the conduct of the Omagh trial. However, Mr Adams has commented on the conduct of the trial at some of the public meetings organised by his party to discuss Sinn Fein endorsement of the police and the judicial system in Northern Ireland.
A party spokesman said issue had been raised at some of the public meetings and Mr Adams had replied in that context.
Mr Gallagher, who is spokesman for many of the Omagh victims' families, said last night that regardless of what opinions people may have, the judicial process had to be respected until its conclusion.
"I sat for 56 days through the trial. Sean Hoey had the best defence money could buy and DNA exerts came from the US at the request of defence. I think he had a fair and thorough trial."
He admitted that many relatives of those who died had "concerns about the trial".
"We will raise these with the secretary of state and the chief constable at the appropriate time." He said he would be very surprised that someone would describe the court proceedings as a "show trial".
"That would be an attack on the courts and shouldn't be said by people of the standing of Gerry Adams who is bringing people from a dark period into a more democratic society."
The judiciary is one of the cornerstones of a democratic society, he said.
"At the moment the Sean Hoey trial is not over. The court proceedings have ended but the trial has not. We should wait anc respect the court and see whai the verdict is."
The verdict in the trial, carried out in a no-jury Diplock court, its not expected for some weeks.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH TIMES
Ref: IT/450
Published Date: 26-Jan-07
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