REAL IRA SUSPECT IS LIKELY TO FACE BOMB CHARGE
Real IRA suspect is likely to face bomb charge?
By IVAN McMICHAEL
A 34-YEAR-OLD man from south Armagh is likely to be charged with murdering the 29 people who died in the Omagh bomb atrocity, the High Court in Belfast heard yesterday.
The disclosure was made by a Crown lawyer opposing a bail application by Sean Gerard Hoey, a 34-year-old electrician from Molly Road, Jonesborough, south Armagh.
He has been in custody since last September on 15 charges involving explosives and membership of the Real IRA which carried out the bombing.
One of the charges related to the possession of a timer power unit between March 1997, and August 16,1998 - the day after the bombing.
Gordon Kerr, QC, said police had informed Hoey that a file to be submitted to the DPP by the end of May would include a request that he should be charged with the murder of 29 people in Omagh and child destruction of two unborn babies.
This would make Hoey the first person in Northern Ireland to be charged with the atrocity.
Mr Kerr told the court about 15 different bomb attacks and said the timer units in all the devices came from a batch bought from a French firm by a fake company named Electra Technics in Dundalk.
He said a forensic expert in explosives had checked the timer power units and claimed he found support for his proposition that one person made all the bombs due to their construction. Mr Kerr said Hoey's DNA was bund on the power unit of the Lisburn car bomb.
Mr Kerr also said Hoey had phoned a Seamus Daly at 3.26 pm on the day of the Omagh bomb and the evidence would be that Daly was coming from the direction of Omagh.
In reply to Lord Justice Nicholson, Mr Kerr said the bomb went off at 3.04pm. He added that Daly pleaded guilty in Dublin last week to membership of the RIRA.
"There will also be evidence by a senior police officer that Hoey who we say is the bomb maker would be a member of the RIRA," said Mr Kerr.
He said the forensic investigation was being overseen by an international team of scientists.
Defence counsel Philip Magee, SC, said it was probably the most complicated forensic case ever mounted here.
"Essentially, the Crown case is that the same person must have made all of these devices because of the fibre and glue used but there is no link between the applicant and the fibres," he said.
"He is concerned about the integrity of the forensic process and the possibility it has been contaminated. He has denied being a member of any illegal organisation," said Mr Magee.
"He denies preparing, making, procuring or anything whatsoever to do with the Omagh bomb and there is no suggestion of DNA from him on the Omagh device."
Lord Justice Nicholson said he was satisfied there was a strong case against Hoey and added: "I note that he may face a charge of murder in relation to the Omagh bomb, a charge of murdering 29 people.
"I am satisfied there is a real risk he would not turn up for his trial and in relation to the activities of the RIRA I am satisfied that a person who is a prima facie bomb maker is liable to be used as a bomb maker in the continuation of those activities.
"In the circumstances bail is refused."
By IVAN McMICHAEL
A 34-YEAR-OLD man from south Armagh is likely to be charged with murdering the 29 people who died in the Omagh bomb atrocity, the High Court in Belfast heard yesterday.
The disclosure was made by a Crown lawyer opposing a bail application by Sean Gerard Hoey, a 34-year-old electrician from Molly Road, Jonesborough, south Armagh.
He has been in custody since last September on 15 charges involving explosives and membership of the Real IRA which carried out the bombing.
One of the charges related to the possession of a timer power unit between March 1997, and August 16,1998 - the day after the bombing.
Gordon Kerr, QC, said police had informed Hoey that a file to be submitted to the DPP by the end of May would include a request that he should be charged with the murder of 29 people in Omagh and child destruction of two unborn babies.
This would make Hoey the first person in Northern Ireland to be charged with the atrocity.
Mr Kerr told the court about 15 different bomb attacks and said the timer units in all the devices came from a batch bought from a French firm by a fake company named Electra Technics in Dundalk.
He said a forensic expert in explosives had checked the timer power units and claimed he found support for his proposition that one person made all the bombs due to their construction. Mr Kerr said Hoey's DNA was bund on the power unit of the Lisburn car bomb.
Mr Kerr also said Hoey had phoned a Seamus Daly at 3.26 pm on the day of the Omagh bomb and the evidence would be that Daly was coming from the direction of Omagh.
In reply to Lord Justice Nicholson, Mr Kerr said the bomb went off at 3.04pm. He added that Daly pleaded guilty in Dublin last week to membership of the RIRA.
"There will also be evidence by a senior police officer that Hoey who we say is the bomb maker would be a member of the RIRA," said Mr Kerr.
He said the forensic investigation was being overseen by an international team of scientists.
Defence counsel Philip Magee, SC, said it was probably the most complicated forensic case ever mounted here.
"Essentially, the Crown case is that the same person must have made all of these devices because of the fibre and glue used but there is no link between the applicant and the fibres," he said.
"He is concerned about the integrity of the forensic process and the possibility it has been contaminated. He has denied being a member of any illegal organisation," said Mr Magee.
"He denies preparing, making, procuring or anything whatsoever to do with the Omagh bomb and there is no suggestion of DNA from him on the Omagh device."
Lord Justice Nicholson said he was satisfied there was a strong case against Hoey and added: "I note that he may face a charge of murder in relation to the Omagh bomb, a charge of murdering 29 people.
"I am satisfied there is a real risk he would not turn up for his trial and in relation to the activities of the RIRA I am satisfied that a person who is a prima facie bomb maker is liable to be used as a bomb maker in the continuation of those activities.
"In the circumstances bail is refused."
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/534
Published Date: 02-Apr-04
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