MAN TO FACE OMAGH BOMBING MURDER CHARGES
Man to face Omagh bombing murder charges
A SOUTH Armagh man is to be charged later this month with murdering the 29 people killed in the Omagh bomb atrocity, it was confirmed in the High Court in Belfast on Tuesday.
Sean Gerard Hoey, a 33-year-old electrician from Molly Road, Jonesborough, who has been in custody since September 2003 on other terrorist charges, was due to apply for bail this week.
But his lawyer, Martin O'Rourke, applied to adjourn the application following last week's disclosure that Hoey was to be charged in relation to the Real IRA bomb attack in Omagh on August 15, 1988.
Mr. O'Rourke told Mr. Justice Higgins that the bail application was lodged on April 22.
"Since then, there have been extensive media reports that the applicant is to be charged with the Omagh bombing, and the 29 murders relating to that incident," he said.
"I am told by the Crown that it is intended to serve preliminary enquiry papers on the defendant by the 19th of this month, and that it is proposed to hold a preliminary enquiry on May 26."
Gordon Kerr, QC. for the Crown, said he could confirm that the police had received a direction from the DPP on April 19 that murder charges in relation to the Omagh bombing would be considered by a magistrate at a preliminary enquiry.
Mr. O'Rourke said Hoey was already facing a total of 20 charges relating to the possession of explosive devices and associated offences.
The charges relate to bomb attacks in Armagh, Banbridge, Lisburn and Newry.
Mr. O'Rourke said he had ascertained from Mr. Kerr that PE papers would contain some additional forensic reports relating to the evidence against the defendant.
"In the light of the developments to the case, and the fact that preliminary enquiry papers are due to be received within nine days, it is my application to adjourn in order that we can see the full extent of the evidence against the defendant," said Mr. O'Rourke.
"At the moment, we have been given limited access to some of the forensic reports, but obviously the picture will be complete when the full PE papers are made available."
Mr. Justice Higgins said he would adjourn the application generally, but said that if it was to be renewed within a short time, the court would appreciate some advance notice.
A SOUTH Armagh man is to be charged later this month with murdering the 29 people killed in the Omagh bomb atrocity, it was confirmed in the High Court in Belfast on Tuesday.
Sean Gerard Hoey, a 33-year-old electrician from Molly Road, Jonesborough, who has been in custody since September 2003 on other terrorist charges, was due to apply for bail this week.
But his lawyer, Martin O'Rourke, applied to adjourn the application following last week's disclosure that Hoey was to be charged in relation to the Real IRA bomb attack in Omagh on August 15, 1988.
Mr. O'Rourke told Mr. Justice Higgins that the bail application was lodged on April 22.
"Since then, there have been extensive media reports that the applicant is to be charged with the Omagh bombing, and the 29 murders relating to that incident," he said.
"I am told by the Crown that it is intended to serve preliminary enquiry papers on the defendant by the 19th of this month, and that it is proposed to hold a preliminary enquiry on May 26."
Gordon Kerr, QC. for the Crown, said he could confirm that the police had received a direction from the DPP on April 19 that murder charges in relation to the Omagh bombing would be considered by a magistrate at a preliminary enquiry.
Mr. O'Rourke said Hoey was already facing a total of 20 charges relating to the possession of explosive devices and associated offences.
The charges relate to bomb attacks in Armagh, Banbridge, Lisburn and Newry.
Mr. O'Rourke said he had ascertained from Mr. Kerr that PE papers would contain some additional forensic reports relating to the evidence against the defendant.
"In the light of the developments to the case, and the fact that preliminary enquiry papers are due to be received within nine days, it is my application to adjourn in order that we can see the full extent of the evidence against the defendant," said Mr. O'Rourke.
"At the moment, we have been given limited access to some of the forensic reports, but obviously the picture will be complete when the full PE papers are made available."
Mr. Justice Higgins said he would adjourn the application generally, but said that if it was to be renewed within a short time, the court would appreciate some advance notice.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1792
Published Date: 12-May-05
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