OMAGH SUSPECT IN COURT
Omagh suspect in court on series of new charges
A 34-YEAR-old south Armagh man, arrested by detectives investigating the Omagh bomb atrocity of August 15, 1998, appeared in court on Thursday last charged with conspiracy to cause bombings in Banbridge, Armagh city and Blackwatertown.
Sean Gerard Hoey, of Molly Road, Jonesborough, is also accused of possessing an explosive device and an explosive device in a trailer. Hoey denied all the allegations.
Craigavon Magistrate's Court heard that all the offences are alleged to have occurred on dates unknown between 1997 and 1998.
Hoey, who appeared dressed in a grey sweatshirt and jeans and flanked by three police officers, already faces 15 other terrorist charges from previous court appearances.
He is the only person from Northern Ireland to be charged in connection with the Omagh bombing, which killed 29 people and unborn twins.
Acting Detective Chief Inspector David McWilliams told the court he had interviewed Hoey earlier in the week at Antrim police station.
He said Hoey had replied 'not guilty' when charged with the five terrorist offences. The officer said he believed he could connect the accused to the charges.
A defence lawyer challenged the detective to reveal when his client, who has been in custody for six months, can expect prosecution papers to be completed.
Mr McWilliams replied: "It's a fairly complicated case involving a lot of documents but we're hoping by the end of May we will have a file with the department."
The officer agreed with the solicitor that Hoey had co-operated fully with police and that he emphatically denied all allegations against him.
Hoey was remanded until April 1 when he will appear again via video-link at Craigavon Magistrates Court.
Earlier last week police were given more time to re-interview Hoey after he appeared at Lisburn Magistrate's Court where a detective inspector requested that an order be made for him to be remanded back in police custody.
Hoey presently faces charges including conspiracy to cause explosions between 1997 and 1998 and membership of the Real IRA.
No details were given in his previous court apperance as to why police wanted to re-interview Hoey.
The charge connecting him to the 1998 atrocity alleged that between March 12, 1997, and August 16, 1998, Hoey had possession of explosives, namely a timer power unit, with intent to endanger life.
The device was described in court as a Timer Power Unit, a Mark 19 model.
Police have said evidence against Hoey had been gathered through physical fits, forensic and DNA evidence and phone analysis.
Hoey told the court he was not guilty when charged with the previous offences.
The magistrate in Lisburn allowed that police could question Hoey at the police holding centre at Antrim PSNI station for up to three days.
No one has ever been convicted of carrying out the Omagh bombing, the worst single terrorist atrocity in the history of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
A 34-YEAR-old south Armagh man, arrested by detectives investigating the Omagh bomb atrocity of August 15, 1998, appeared in court on Thursday last charged with conspiracy to cause bombings in Banbridge, Armagh city and Blackwatertown.
Sean Gerard Hoey, of Molly Road, Jonesborough, is also accused of possessing an explosive device and an explosive device in a trailer. Hoey denied all the allegations.
Craigavon Magistrate's Court heard that all the offences are alleged to have occurred on dates unknown between 1997 and 1998.
Hoey, who appeared dressed in a grey sweatshirt and jeans and flanked by three police officers, already faces 15 other terrorist charges from previous court appearances.
He is the only person from Northern Ireland to be charged in connection with the Omagh bombing, which killed 29 people and unborn twins.
Acting Detective Chief Inspector David McWilliams told the court he had interviewed Hoey earlier in the week at Antrim police station.
He said Hoey had replied 'not guilty' when charged with the five terrorist offences. The officer said he believed he could connect the accused to the charges.
A defence lawyer challenged the detective to reveal when his client, who has been in custody for six months, can expect prosecution papers to be completed.
Mr McWilliams replied: "It's a fairly complicated case involving a lot of documents but we're hoping by the end of May we will have a file with the department."
The officer agreed with the solicitor that Hoey had co-operated fully with police and that he emphatically denied all allegations against him.
Hoey was remanded until April 1 when he will appear again via video-link at Craigavon Magistrates Court.
Earlier last week police were given more time to re-interview Hoey after he appeared at Lisburn Magistrate's Court where a detective inspector requested that an order be made for him to be remanded back in police custody.
Hoey presently faces charges including conspiracy to cause explosions between 1997 and 1998 and membership of the Real IRA.
No details were given in his previous court apperance as to why police wanted to re-interview Hoey.
The charge connecting him to the 1998 atrocity alleged that between March 12, 1997, and August 16, 1998, Hoey had possession of explosives, namely a timer power unit, with intent to endanger life.
The device was described in court as a Timer Power Unit, a Mark 19 model.
Police have said evidence against Hoey had been gathered through physical fits, forensic and DNA evidence and phone analysis.
Hoey told the court he was not guilty when charged with the previous offences.
The magistrate in Lisburn allowed that police could question Hoey at the police holding centre at Antrim PSNI station for up to three days.
No one has ever been convicted of carrying out the Omagh bombing, the worst single terrorist atrocity in the history of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1728
Published Date: 11-Mar-04
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.