NEW DATE SET FOR START OF OMAGH BOMBING TRIAL
New date set for start of Omagh bombing trial
by Olga Bradshaw
A NEW date has been set for the start of the Omagh bomb murder trial, which was dramatically adjourned in Belfast last week, due to the ill-health of the leading defence barrister.
On Wednesday last senior counsel, Orlando Pownall, asked for the trial not to go ahead, as he had contracted a viral infection.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday Laganside judge, Mr Justice Weir, said it had now been agreed to adjourn the case to September 25.
Sean Hoey, a 37-year-old electrician from Molly Road, Jonesborough, Co Armagh, faces 29 charges of murder arising out of the Omagh bombing. He also faces a catalogue of other offences arising out of 14 linked incidents, including causing explosions, possession of component parts of bombs, conspiracy to bomb, conspiracy to murder members of the security forces and causing explosions by mortar bombs. The charges, 58 in all, date from March 1997.
Speaking this week, Mr Justice Weir said he wanted to be told immediately if Mr Pownall could not meet the new date, and said if the trial did not proceed he would devise a "backstop solution". He added that he wanted to fix a firm date and was not prepared to allow the case to drift in and out of the lists.
The dramatic collapse of trial devastated and disappointed families of those killed in the 1998 atrocity.
Chairman of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, Michael Gallagher, whose son, Aidan was just 21 when he died in the Omagh bomb, said he was 'extremely disappointed' that the trial had not got underway as planned. However, he said on Tuesday that there was relief at the news that the trial was to proceed later this month.
Commenting on how the families felt over the latest hiccup in the case, he commented: "Extreme disappointment is how I would describe the situation. After eight years it is not what the families needed. We just hope the trial will be restarted and completed as soon as reasonably possible," he said.
The group's vice-chairman, Mr Stanley McCombe, said many in the contingent who had travelled to the court in Belfast felt bitterly disappointed that the trial had not got underway as planned. "We thought this had to be a joke only it was too serious, and we were looking at each other and saying to ourselves 'is this happening again? Are we being brushed to one side and put on the backburner again? On a personal level I am very angry and disappointed, but we are determined to keep going. We have not battled for eight years to throw our hands in the air at this stage," he said.
Perished
Meanwhile, the mother of one of the three young children from Buncrana who died in the bombing while on a day trip to Omagh, said that her son would have been 16 in May had he not perished in the 3001b car bomb blast.
Mrs Bernie Doherty lost her eight-year-old son Oran in the blast alongside his friends Shaun McLaughlin (11) and James Barker (12).
She said she intended to show up for at least one day of the trial just to see the accused's face, and to look at him.
"I can't explain why and I know it won't change things, but I would like to look into his face. He knows whether or not he's guilty," she said.
"I've been thinking even more about the whole thing since Oran's 16th birthday. I think it's because I see his wee friends up the street and some of them have got so tall. I wonder would Oran still be hanging about with those friends or would he have different friends by now.
"He would be going into fifth year in secondary school and would be doing his Leaving Cert next year. He should be here living his life," she said.
A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Court Service said the listing of the case for hearing was "a matter for Mr Justice Weir".
Asked if a final decision had been made with regard to the provision and location of a video link-up of the court hearing in Omagh, to facilitate families and friends of those killed, the spokesperson added: "The Northern Ireland Court Service is actively considering potential sites and a final decision will be made shortly. The number of people who can be accommodated will be dependant on the site selected. This facility is being established for family members who will have priority usage."
by Olga Bradshaw
A NEW date has been set for the start of the Omagh bomb murder trial, which was dramatically adjourned in Belfast last week, due to the ill-health of the leading defence barrister.
On Wednesday last senior counsel, Orlando Pownall, asked for the trial not to go ahead, as he had contracted a viral infection.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday Laganside judge, Mr Justice Weir, said it had now been agreed to adjourn the case to September 25.
Sean Hoey, a 37-year-old electrician from Molly Road, Jonesborough, Co Armagh, faces 29 charges of murder arising out of the Omagh bombing. He also faces a catalogue of other offences arising out of 14 linked incidents, including causing explosions, possession of component parts of bombs, conspiracy to bomb, conspiracy to murder members of the security forces and causing explosions by mortar bombs. The charges, 58 in all, date from March 1997.
Speaking this week, Mr Justice Weir said he wanted to be told immediately if Mr Pownall could not meet the new date, and said if the trial did not proceed he would devise a "backstop solution". He added that he wanted to fix a firm date and was not prepared to allow the case to drift in and out of the lists.
The dramatic collapse of trial devastated and disappointed families of those killed in the 1998 atrocity.
Chairman of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, Michael Gallagher, whose son, Aidan was just 21 when he died in the Omagh bomb, said he was 'extremely disappointed' that the trial had not got underway as planned. However, he said on Tuesday that there was relief at the news that the trial was to proceed later this month.
Commenting on how the families felt over the latest hiccup in the case, he commented: "Extreme disappointment is how I would describe the situation. After eight years it is not what the families needed. We just hope the trial will be restarted and completed as soon as reasonably possible," he said.
The group's vice-chairman, Mr Stanley McCombe, said many in the contingent who had travelled to the court in Belfast felt bitterly disappointed that the trial had not got underway as planned. "We thought this had to be a joke only it was too serious, and we were looking at each other and saying to ourselves 'is this happening again? Are we being brushed to one side and put on the backburner again? On a personal level I am very angry and disappointed, but we are determined to keep going. We have not battled for eight years to throw our hands in the air at this stage," he said.
Perished
Meanwhile, the mother of one of the three young children from Buncrana who died in the bombing while on a day trip to Omagh, said that her son would have been 16 in May had he not perished in the 3001b car bomb blast.
Mrs Bernie Doherty lost her eight-year-old son Oran in the blast alongside his friends Shaun McLaughlin (11) and James Barker (12).
She said she intended to show up for at least one day of the trial just to see the accused's face, and to look at him.
"I can't explain why and I know it won't change things, but I would like to look into his face. He knows whether or not he's guilty," she said.
"I've been thinking even more about the whole thing since Oran's 16th birthday. I think it's because I see his wee friends up the street and some of them have got so tall. I wonder would Oran still be hanging about with those friends or would he have different friends by now.
"He would be going into fifth year in secondary school and would be doing his Leaving Cert next year. He should be here living his life," she said.
A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Court Service said the listing of the case for hearing was "a matter for Mr Justice Weir".
Asked if a final decision had been made with regard to the provision and location of a video link-up of the court hearing in Omagh, to facilitate families and friends of those killed, the spokesperson added: "The Northern Ireland Court Service is actively considering potential sites and a final decision will be made shortly. The number of people who can be accommodated will be dependant on the site selected. This facility is being established for family members who will have priority usage."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1846
Published Date: 14-Sep-06
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