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Families round on police in aftermath of verdict
BY DERIC HENDERSON, IAN GRAHAM and DAVID YOUNG

ANGRY relatives hit out at the way the police had handled the affair, especially the initial investigation by the RUC when Sir Ronnie Flanagan was in charge - and when important forensic evidence was first contaminated.
The father of a 12-year-old boy killed in the bombing blamed a former police chief for the acquittal.
English lawyer Victor Barker, who lost his son James, said: "It is the appalling inefficiency of Sir Ronnie Flanagan that has meant Chief Supt Baxter has not been able to secure a conviction."
He said the initial investigation by Sir Ronnie had been deeply flawed.
Mr Barker added: "He said he would fall on his sword if anything was wrong with this investigation. I will give him the sword."
Mr Barker, who attended the court with his wife and 13-year-old son Oliver, said they were "very disappointed" at the judge's decision which had to be based on the evidence put before him.
He said that, as a lawyer, he accepted the legal system was there to protect the human rights of people such as Sean Hoey and he had to stand by it, adding: "It is only a great shame that my son and the 29 people who died in Omagh has no human rights at all."
Mr Barker appealed to organisations such as the Real IRA to put the past behind them or there would be "no future for this island".
Sir Ronnie, who is now head of the Inspectorate of Constabulary at the Home Office, was unavailable for comment last night.
Lawrence Rush, whose wife died in the bombing, also hit out at what he said was the devastating way the investigation had been mounted.
He revealed he had taken legal action against the police over their handling of evidence and the way some of it had been lost.
He said: "I am tired, I am exhausted after 10 years of pain and hope."
But he added: "I am not over-disappointed, I would not have wanted the wrong man to be convicted."
Michael Gallagher, whose son, Aidan, 21, was among the 29 dead, demanded a full scale cross-border public inquiry.
He said: "I think there has to be real questions why this was allowed to go through the system.
"The police recommended the prosecution and the DPP allowed it to move forward. Then they brought us all here for Christmas to get this news."
He said both the British and Irish governments must now set up a full cross-border inquiry into the Omagh bombing.
"They can no longer refuse to give families such an inquiry. This case has been a disgrace by any standards."
Stanley McCombe, whose wife, Ann, 48, was another of the victims, said he was shocked by the decision.
He added: "I'm flabbergasted, dumbfounded. I do not know what to think. All the resources over the last nine-and-a-half years have not got us anywhere. Hoey has done four-and-a-half years and I'm sure his compensation will be far greater than we had to fight and embarrass ourselves into getting."
Families of the dead, though stunned by Hoey's acquittal, pledged to press ahead with a High Court civil action for £14 million compensation against five men whom they claim were responsible for the Real IRA attack. It is due to start in April.
One of the five is Hoey's uncle, Colm Murphy, 52, from Dundalk who is challenging a decision to retry him in Dublin on charges connected to the Omagh bombing.
He sat directly behind his nephew in the public gallery as Mr Justice Weir took an hour-and-a-quarter to deliver his verdict.
Stan Brown, chief executive of the Forensic Science Service Northern Ireland, said: "First and foremost we recognise the pain and suffering of the families of the 29 people who lost their lives.
"This is a detailed judgment Justice Weir has arrived at. As chief executive of the Forensic Science Service, it is important now to take time to consider the judgment fully.
"We will look carefully at this judgment and take whatever steps necessary.
"Where there are lessons to be learnt we will learn them and where there are improvements to be made we will make them."
The Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland defended its decision to prosecute Sean Hoey.
A statement on its behalf said: "The decision to prosecute Sean Hoey was made following a careful analysis of the available evidence.
"It was concluded that the evidence was sufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of obtaining a conviction.
"That evidence has properly been the subject of rigorous scrutiny in the course of the trial.
"At the close of the prosecution case, the trial judge ruled that the evidence against Sean Hoey was sufficiently strong that the tribunal of fact, properly directed upon the law, could find him guilty of the offences charged.
"Given the ruling of the trial judge, the PPS considers that the decisions which it took as to prosecution were properly taken.
"At the end of the trial, the trial judge has given detailed reasons why, in his judgment as the tribunal of fact, the case has not been proved beyond a reasonable doubt.
"The PPS will give very careful consideration to the findings and observations of the trial judge."
The chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board said an early meeting would be sought with the Chief Constable to discuss the judgment.
Prof Sir Desmond Rea said: "The Omagh bombing was a terrible atrocity and has had a devastating impact for all those families who lost loved ones and who were injured in the attack. Their suffering continues."
Copies of the judgment and verdict were being sent to all board members, he said.
"Having carefully studied the judgment, the board will discuss Mr Justice Weir's findings and the issues arising from the case with the Chief Constable at the earliest opportunity," Sir Desmond said.
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission made a fresh call for a cross border review into Omagh.
Chief Commissioner Prof Monica McWilliams said that last January, following a series of meetings with the Omagh families, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Irish Human Rights Commission called on the British and Irish governments to establish a Cory-style review into the Omagh bombing and surrounding events.
"We reiterate this position today and recommend that a serving or retired judge of international standing, should be appointed to examine all available material to determine whether it is appropriate to institute an independent, cross-border or public inquiry into the atrocity."
The Commission had written to the Secretary of State outlining its position in January and were told that no decision would be made until the outcome of this trial.
"The Commission will follow up with the Secretary of State on the current position following today's judgment," said Ms McWilliams.