OMAGH BOMB: MAN APPEARS IN DOCK
Omagh bomb Man appears in dock
A 34-YEAR-old man appeared in court at the weekend charged in connection with the Omagh bomb of August 15, 1998.
Sean Gerard Hoey, an unemployed electrician, from Tom Molly Road, Jonesborough, in South Armagh, vas charged with 15 terrorist offences at Craigavon Magistrates Court on Saturday.
One of the charges possession of an explosive substance a timer power unit is believed to be connected to the Omagh atrocity, which killed 29 people, including unborn twins.
Relatives of those who died in the bombing watched from the public gallery as Hoey appeared in the dock handcuffed and surrounded by nine armed police officers.
Throughout the brief hearing, Mr Hoey spoke only twice, saying "yes" to confirm his name and to confirm he understood the charges.
He also faced a further 14 Charges including membership of the Real IRA and conspiracy to cause an explosion in Lisburn three months before the Omagh attack.
He was remanded in custody to reappear at the same court by video link on October 2.
During the hearing a police officer had told the court that when charged on Friday last, Mr Hoey replied not guilty to each charge.
In answer to questions from a defence solicitor, a Detective Chief Inspector agreed that the accused had been previously interviewed on three occasions and released without charge.
The defence solicitor insisted that on the possession charges there was "absolutely no evidence" to connect his client with the charges.
The charge in relation to the Omagh bombing stated "that on a date unknown between March 12 1997 and August 16 1998, within the jurisdiction of the County Court, unlawfully and maliciously had in your possession or under your control a certain explosive substance, namely a timer power unit described as a Mark 19 model, with intent by means thereof to endanger life or cause serious injury to property in the United Kingdom or to enable some other person so to do contrary to Section 3 (1) (b) of the Explosive Substances Act 1883".
Hoey was arrested last week with his wife in the Jonesborough area of South Armagh.
Up to 200 police officers and British soldiers were involved in the major swoop.
The pair were questioned at Gough barracks in Armagh city and the woman was released without charge on Thursday last.
To date, one person, Colm Murphy, has been convicted in the south in connection with the blast. Last month Michael McKevitt, leader of the Real IRA at the time of the bombing, was jailed for 20 years for directing terrorism. The charge predated the Omagh attack.
A 34-YEAR-old man appeared in court at the weekend charged in connection with the Omagh bomb of August 15, 1998.
Sean Gerard Hoey, an unemployed electrician, from Tom Molly Road, Jonesborough, in South Armagh, vas charged with 15 terrorist offences at Craigavon Magistrates Court on Saturday.
One of the charges possession of an explosive substance a timer power unit is believed to be connected to the Omagh atrocity, which killed 29 people, including unborn twins.
Relatives of those who died in the bombing watched from the public gallery as Hoey appeared in the dock handcuffed and surrounded by nine armed police officers.
Throughout the brief hearing, Mr Hoey spoke only twice, saying "yes" to confirm his name and to confirm he understood the charges.
He also faced a further 14 Charges including membership of the Real IRA and conspiracy to cause an explosion in Lisburn three months before the Omagh attack.
He was remanded in custody to reappear at the same court by video link on October 2.
During the hearing a police officer had told the court that when charged on Friday last, Mr Hoey replied not guilty to each charge.
In answer to questions from a defence solicitor, a Detective Chief Inspector agreed that the accused had been previously interviewed on three occasions and released without charge.
The defence solicitor insisted that on the possession charges there was "absolutely no evidence" to connect his client with the charges.
The charge in relation to the Omagh bombing stated "that on a date unknown between March 12 1997 and August 16 1998, within the jurisdiction of the County Court, unlawfully and maliciously had in your possession or under your control a certain explosive substance, namely a timer power unit described as a Mark 19 model, with intent by means thereof to endanger life or cause serious injury to property in the United Kingdom or to enable some other person so to do contrary to Section 3 (1) (b) of the Explosive Substances Act 1883".
Hoey was arrested last week with his wife in the Jonesborough area of South Armagh.
Up to 200 police officers and British soldiers were involved in the major swoop.
The pair were questioned at Gough barracks in Armagh city and the woman was released without charge on Thursday last.
To date, one person, Colm Murphy, has been convicted in the south in connection with the blast. Last month Michael McKevitt, leader of the Real IRA at the time of the bombing, was jailed for 20 years for directing terrorism. The charge predated the Omagh attack.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1659
Published Date: 11-Sep-03
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