OMAGH BOMB ACCUSED TRIES TO HALT ACTION
Omagh bomb accused tries to halt action
Electrician, 35, bids to have case stopped
BY ALAN ERWIN
THE man accused of the Omagh bomb murders will attempt to have the case against him halted, it emerged yesterday.
Electrician Sean Gerard Hoey, 35, from south Armagh, is due to face a total of 61 new charges when he appears in person at court in seven days.
But as prosecutors revealed the extra charges against him, which include the 29 deaths in the 1998 Real IRA no-warning bomb attack, his legal representative hit out at how the case had been handled.
Defence solicitor Peter Corrigan told Craigavon Magistrates Court: "He was first interviewed in 1998 about Omagh and other offences.
"We submit that the prosecution has been conducted in a most unacceptable manner.
"The prosecution have manipulated the process."
Hoey, who is already facing a series of terrorist and explosive-related charges - including membership of the dissident republican organisation behind Northern Ireland's worst terrorist atrocity - is due to be formally charged with the murders following a major review of all available forensic evidence.
The Director of Public Prosecutions directed that he could be accused after studying a mammoth police file.
But Mr Corrigan claimed the court had been misled in the case against Hoey, of Molly Road, Jonesborough, and pledged to launch an abuse of process application in an attempt to have the proceedings stopped.
He said: "Throughout earlier discussions about the case, there was no mention of impending murder charges.
"The delay was a breach of his human rights... and it's prejudicing our client in relation to receiving a fair trial."
Even though relatives of some Omagh victims are taking a multi-million pound civil action against five men they suspect of plotting the atrocity, no - one has been charged with the-bombing.
But a prosecution lawyer confirmed that a total of 61 new charges will be put to Hoey when he returns to the dock.
She did not refer to the Omagh killings, but at an earlier court hearing the Crown confirmed that the murder charges were to be put to Hoey before the end of the month.
The accused appeared at the Co Armagh courthouse yesterday via video link from jail where he is on remand after being charged with involvement in bombings leading up to the strike on Omagh.
These include attacks in Co Armagh, Co Fermanagh, Banbridge and Newry, Co Down, as well as two in Belfast.
Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aiden died at Omagh, was in court for the hearing.
Outside the court, he said: "We are delighted to be here, it's progress in the investigation.
"I will certainly be back next week to see the result of the 61 charges that are being read out and I hope it will not be the last appearance we make in courthouses in connection with Omagh."
Electrician, 35, bids to have case stopped
BY ALAN ERWIN
THE man accused of the Omagh bomb murders will attempt to have the case against him halted, it emerged yesterday.
Electrician Sean Gerard Hoey, 35, from south Armagh, is due to face a total of 61 new charges when he appears in person at court in seven days.
But as prosecutors revealed the extra charges against him, which include the 29 deaths in the 1998 Real IRA no-warning bomb attack, his legal representative hit out at how the case had been handled.
Defence solicitor Peter Corrigan told Craigavon Magistrates Court: "He was first interviewed in 1998 about Omagh and other offences.
"We submit that the prosecution has been conducted in a most unacceptable manner.
"The prosecution have manipulated the process."
Hoey, who is already facing a series of terrorist and explosive-related charges - including membership of the dissident republican organisation behind Northern Ireland's worst terrorist atrocity - is due to be formally charged with the murders following a major review of all available forensic evidence.
The Director of Public Prosecutions directed that he could be accused after studying a mammoth police file.
But Mr Corrigan claimed the court had been misled in the case against Hoey, of Molly Road, Jonesborough, and pledged to launch an abuse of process application in an attempt to have the proceedings stopped.
He said: "Throughout earlier discussions about the case, there was no mention of impending murder charges.
"The delay was a breach of his human rights... and it's prejudicing our client in relation to receiving a fair trial."
Even though relatives of some Omagh victims are taking a multi-million pound civil action against five men they suspect of plotting the atrocity, no - one has been charged with the-bombing.
But a prosecution lawyer confirmed that a total of 61 new charges will be put to Hoey when he returns to the dock.
She did not refer to the Omagh killings, but at an earlier court hearing the Crown confirmed that the murder charges were to be put to Hoey before the end of the month.
The accused appeared at the Co Armagh courthouse yesterday via video link from jail where he is on remand after being charged with involvement in bombings leading up to the strike on Omagh.
These include attacks in Co Armagh, Co Fermanagh, Banbridge and Newry, Co Down, as well as two in Belfast.
Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aiden died at Omagh, was in court for the hearing.
Outside the court, he said: "We are delighted to be here, it's progress in the investigation.
"I will certainly be back next week to see the result of the 61 charges that are being read out and I hope it will not be the last appearance we make in courthouses in connection with Omagh."
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/607
Published Date: 20-May-05
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