SCIENTIST LINKS LISBURN BOMBING TO OMAGH SUSPECT
Scientist links Lisburn bombing to Omagh suspect
FIBRES uncovered in a massive car bomb in Lisburn are "indistinguishable" from those taken from the home of Omagh bomb suspect Sean Hoey, his trial heard yesterday.
Giving evidence at Belfast Crown Court, forensic expert in fibre analysis Dr Ruth Griffin said four fibres taken from the timer power unit of the device found in Lisburn's Market Street on May 1,1998, "were indistinguishable from fibres taken from the various items taken from the mobile home attributed to Hoey".
The scientist said those fibres had come from a sofa and two cardigans in Hoey's mobile home at Molly's Road, Jonesborough, and added that it gave "weak support" to the proposition that the TPU and the items from the mobile home had been in contact with the same fabric or garment.
Dr Griffen said it was accepted scientific fact that in random searches "it's unusual to find matching fibres".
She also said in examining the Omagh bomb and other devices, she found three different types of fibres common to each of them, labelled A, B and C but that none of those were uncovered in items seized from Hoey's home.
Asked to comment on her findings, Dr Griffin said the fact that as only fibres linked with the Lisburn device were allegedly uncovered, it would "support the proposition that the devices have not been constructed" in Hoey's mobile home.
The 37-year-old electrician denies 58 terrorist-related charges including the Omagh bomb, which claimed 29 lives including that of unborn twins.
FIBRES uncovered in a massive car bomb in Lisburn are "indistinguishable" from those taken from the home of Omagh bomb suspect Sean Hoey, his trial heard yesterday.
Giving evidence at Belfast Crown Court, forensic expert in fibre analysis Dr Ruth Griffin said four fibres taken from the timer power unit of the device found in Lisburn's Market Street on May 1,1998, "were indistinguishable from fibres taken from the various items taken from the mobile home attributed to Hoey".
The scientist said those fibres had come from a sofa and two cardigans in Hoey's mobile home at Molly's Road, Jonesborough, and added that it gave "weak support" to the proposition that the TPU and the items from the mobile home had been in contact with the same fabric or garment.
Dr Griffen said it was accepted scientific fact that in random searches "it's unusual to find matching fibres".
She also said in examining the Omagh bomb and other devices, she found three different types of fibres common to each of them, labelled A, B and C but that none of those were uncovered in items seized from Hoey's home.
Asked to comment on her findings, Dr Griffin said the fact that as only fibres linked with the Lisburn device were allegedly uncovered, it would "support the proposition that the devices have not been constructed" in Hoey's mobile home.
The 37-year-old electrician denies 58 terrorist-related charges including the Omagh bomb, which claimed 29 lives including that of unborn twins.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/674
Published Date: 21-Nov-06
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