VIDEO LINK FOR OMAGH FAMILIES
Video link for Omagh families
BY STAFF REPORTER
RELATIVES of the 29 people killed in the Omagh bomb will be able to watch the trial of the man accused of their murder via video link in the Co Tyrone town.
The Northern Ireland Courts Service yesterday confirmed that Omagh College is to be used as the venue for a video link with Belfast Crown Court during the trial of Sean Hoey.
The trial of Hoey, a 37-year-old electrician of Molly Road, Jonesborough, Co Armagh, is due to resume on Monday. He has denied all 58 charges against him.
His trial was adjourned earlier this month after senior defence counsel Orlando Pownall QC said he was too ill to proceed.
"It is the first time ever in Northern Ireland that there has been a video link like this," said Michael Gallagher who lost his 21-year-old son Aidan in the Omagh Bomb.
"We think it is important that families who were directly affected can go into Omagh and they don't need to travel a round trip of 150 miles. So it's relieving them of a terrible burden of having to be away from seven o'clock in the morning and possibly not being home until seven o'clock at night."
A statement issued by the Court Service read: "The Northern Ireland Court Service has set-up a video link facility between Belfast Crown Court and Omagh College which will allow the families of the victims of the Omagh bombing to follow the Crown Court trial R v Hoey, which resumes at Laganside Courts on Monday 25 September.
"The video link will operate between Laganside Courts in Belfast and Omagh College and will be available for the duration of the trial."
BY STAFF REPORTER
RELATIVES of the 29 people killed in the Omagh bomb will be able to watch the trial of the man accused of their murder via video link in the Co Tyrone town.
The Northern Ireland Courts Service yesterday confirmed that Omagh College is to be used as the venue for a video link with Belfast Crown Court during the trial of Sean Hoey.
The trial of Hoey, a 37-year-old electrician of Molly Road, Jonesborough, Co Armagh, is due to resume on Monday. He has denied all 58 charges against him.
His trial was adjourned earlier this month after senior defence counsel Orlando Pownall QC said he was too ill to proceed.
"It is the first time ever in Northern Ireland that there has been a video link like this," said Michael Gallagher who lost his 21-year-old son Aidan in the Omagh Bomb.
"We think it is important that families who were directly affected can go into Omagh and they don't need to travel a round trip of 150 miles. So it's relieving them of a terrible burden of having to be away from seven o'clock in the morning and possibly not being home until seven o'clock at night."
A statement issued by the Court Service read: "The Northern Ireland Court Service has set-up a video link facility between Belfast Crown Court and Omagh College which will allow the families of the victims of the Omagh bombing to follow the Crown Court trial R v Hoey, which resumes at Laganside Courts on Monday 25 September.
"The video link will operate between Laganside Courts in Belfast and Omagh College and will be available for the duration of the trial."
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/661
Published Date: 21-Sep-06
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