HOEY TO STAND TRIAL FOR OMAGH BOMB
Hoey to stand trial for Omagh bomb
THE trial of the man charged with the Omagh bomb atrocity should go ahead in September, a judge ruled this week.
Confirmation that Sean Hoey, 36, should stand trial, came when a judge threw out an application by lawyers acting for the electrician, that the charges should be dropped.
In a ruling at Belfast Crown Court, Mr. Justice Weir said he had carefully considered submissions made by both the defence and the Crown during a No Bills Application, and had decided there was a case to answer, and the charges should stand.
Hoey stood in the dock and formally pleaded not guilty to 29 charges of murdering the victims of the Real IRA car bomb attack in the Co. Tyrone town in August 1998.
Hoey faces a total of 58 charges relating to the Omagh massacre and other terrorist strikes across Northern Ireland at around the same period.
As well as murder, he pleaded not guilty to a series of charges, including conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to cause explosion, causing an explosion and possession of explosives with intent.
Hoey, who has been in custody for nearly three years, was again remanded in custody.
Mr. Justice Weir told lawyers representing both Crown and defence, that he wanted no slippage in plans for the trial to start in September.
He told them: "I expect anything that needs to be attended to, be attended to in the next month or so."
The case was lifted for a review on June 2, to ensure there are no problems to prevent a September start.
Michael Gallagher, whose son, Aiden, was an Omagh victim, attended the court hearing and expressed relief that the case was going ahead.
He said: "As far as the families are concerned, the quicker the trial starts, the better for all. It's going to be a long and difficult process, but we are going to be here when it starts."
He said he had few concerns that the judge would have thrown out the case against Hoey, because of the strong case the police had built.
THE trial of the man charged with the Omagh bomb atrocity should go ahead in September, a judge ruled this week.
Confirmation that Sean Hoey, 36, should stand trial, came when a judge threw out an application by lawyers acting for the electrician, that the charges should be dropped.
In a ruling at Belfast Crown Court, Mr. Justice Weir said he had carefully considered submissions made by both the defence and the Crown during a No Bills Application, and had decided there was a case to answer, and the charges should stand.
Hoey stood in the dock and formally pleaded not guilty to 29 charges of murdering the victims of the Real IRA car bomb attack in the Co. Tyrone town in August 1998.
Hoey faces a total of 58 charges relating to the Omagh massacre and other terrorist strikes across Northern Ireland at around the same period.
As well as murder, he pleaded not guilty to a series of charges, including conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to cause explosion, causing an explosion and possession of explosives with intent.
Hoey, who has been in custody for nearly three years, was again remanded in custody.
Mr. Justice Weir told lawyers representing both Crown and defence, that he wanted no slippage in plans for the trial to start in September.
He told them: "I expect anything that needs to be attended to, be attended to in the next month or so."
The case was lifted for a review on June 2, to ensure there are no problems to prevent a September start.
Michael Gallagher, whose son, Aiden, was an Omagh victim, attended the court hearing and expressed relief that the case was going ahead.
He said: "As far as the families are concerned, the quicker the trial starts, the better for all. It's going to be a long and difficult process, but we are going to be here when it starts."
He said he had few concerns that the judge would have thrown out the case against Hoey, because of the strong case the police had built.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1833
Published Date: 04-May-06
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