OMAGH ACCUSED SET TO GO ON TRIAL
Omagh accused set to go on trial
SEAN Hoey, the man accused of the Omagh bomb massacre in August, 1998, finally goes on trial today three years after his initial arrest.
Hoey will be tried before Diplock judge Mr Justice Weir in what is expected to be one of the last major non-jury terrorist trials to be held in Northern Ireland.
It is understood that the prosecution case against the 36-year-old concerns mainly DNA evidence allegedly uncovered from what is known as Low Copy Number DNA testing.
However, it is also known that further DNA tests, under a different procedure, were being carried out on two specific items of evidence yesterday in preparation for the start of the case today.
In addition to the murder of the 29 people killed in the blast, including that of Avril Monaghan, whose unborn twins died with her, Hoey, from Molly Road, Jonesborough, faces a multitude of other terrorist charges.
He is charged with and denies a total of 58 charges, relating not only to the Omagh bomb, but to six other murder conspiracies, five bombings, four bomb conspiracies, and the possession of explosives including timer power units, mortar bombs and bombs.
SEAN Hoey, the man accused of the Omagh bomb massacre in August, 1998, finally goes on trial today three years after his initial arrest.
Hoey will be tried before Diplock judge Mr Justice Weir in what is expected to be one of the last major non-jury terrorist trials to be held in Northern Ireland.
It is understood that the prosecution case against the 36-year-old concerns mainly DNA evidence allegedly uncovered from what is known as Low Copy Number DNA testing.
However, it is also known that further DNA tests, under a different procedure, were being carried out on two specific items of evidence yesterday in preparation for the start of the case today.
In addition to the murder of the 29 people killed in the blast, including that of Avril Monaghan, whose unborn twins died with her, Hoey, from Molly Road, Jonesborough, faces a multitude of other terrorist charges.
He is charged with and denies a total of 58 charges, relating not only to the Omagh bomb, but to six other murder conspiracies, five bombings, four bomb conspiracies, and the possession of explosives including timer power units, mortar bombs and bombs.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/657
Published Date: 06-Sep-06
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