BOMB COMPONENTS WERE NOT CHECKED
Bomb components were not checked for DNA, court hears
THE most senior forensic explosives expert in Northern Ireland has told the Omagh bomb trial that examination of exhibits using Low Copy Number DNA (LCN DNA) "was not a twinkle in my eye" in 1998, the year of the bombing.
Dr Gerard Murray told Belfast Crown Court that components of a failed Real IRA attack near Belfast in April 1998 had not been checked for LCN DNA.
The prosecution in the trial of Sean Gerard Hoey, an electrician from Jonesborough, Co Armagh, is trying to link him to the Omagh atrocity, and a series of other terrorist attacks and attempted attacks, using DNA evidence.
Dr Murray said: "There would have been no LCN DNA requirement at that stage, and items would have been looked at essentially for fingerprint and fibres. It was not a twinkle in my eye."
Dr Murray also examined a timer power unit from a 600lb Lisburn car bomb which was defused by Army technical officers in the city centre, and which Hoey is also charged in connection with.
Earlier in the week, Hoey's defence team claimed that items were added to evidence from this incident before it was taken to be examined by DNA specialists.
The judge, Mr Justice Weir, said it appeared that black tape had been deliberately placed on the lid of a bomb timer after it was retrieved from the scene of the Lisburn attack, and before it was examined by DNA experts at a forensics lab in Birmingham.
On photographs taken in Birmingham, black tape is clearly visible on the lid of the bomb timer - but a forensic scientist told the court that the tape had not been there when he examined the timer months earlier at a laboratory in Northern Ireland.
Defence QC, Orlando Pownall, said he would be arguing that an individual or individuals had placed the tape in the evidence bag. Mr Justice Weir described the appearance of the tape as 'Houdini-like'.
Mr Pownall said: "If the (Lisburn) item had been examined for fingerprints before, as we know it had been, the only possible remaining forensic discipline would have been fibres. So the requirement then in 1998 for the utmost care to be taken when examining and exhibit simply was not there."
Dr Murray said he had taken every measure within his knowledge to prevent contamination of the evidence. He also told the court he had never seen black Army tape used on the Lisburn device and had no idea where it could have come from.
Meanwhile, earlier in the week, prosecution lawyer, Mr Gordon Kerr QC, was forced to accept that evidence from two key prosecution witnesses should be treated "with caution" after question marks were placed over the reliability of their testimonies.
Mr Justice Weir had asked the prosecution to look at the evidence of Scene of Crime Officer, Fiona Cooper, and Detective Chief Inspector Philip Greer Marshall, over the weekend, and to ascertain whether the Crown still considered them to be "witnesses of truth".
Their evidence related to the discovery of a mortar bomb at Altmore Forest Park near Dungannon.
Under cross-examination by Mr Pownall, Miss Cooper admitted amending her statement after consulting Mr Marshall. In turn, Mr Marshall admitted to acting 'improperly' by asking his colleague to "beef up" her witness statement.
In relation to Miss Cooper, Mr Kerr told the court that it was "accepted that there is material upon which the court, as a tribunal of fact, could draw adverse inferences as to the credibility and reliability of Ms Cooper.
"(There is an) acknowledgement that the court should direct itself to treat her evidence with caution.
"In relation to Mr Marshall, a review of the transcript suggests that some of the same issues may arise with this witness," he said.
Hoey faces a total of 58 terrorism charges, including the 29 Omagh murders, all of which he denies. His trial is expected to last for several months.
THE most senior forensic explosives expert in Northern Ireland has told the Omagh bomb trial that examination of exhibits using Low Copy Number DNA (LCN DNA) "was not a twinkle in my eye" in 1998, the year of the bombing.
Dr Gerard Murray told Belfast Crown Court that components of a failed Real IRA attack near Belfast in April 1998 had not been checked for LCN DNA.
The prosecution in the trial of Sean Gerard Hoey, an electrician from Jonesborough, Co Armagh, is trying to link him to the Omagh atrocity, and a series of other terrorist attacks and attempted attacks, using DNA evidence.
Dr Murray said: "There would have been no LCN DNA requirement at that stage, and items would have been looked at essentially for fingerprint and fibres. It was not a twinkle in my eye."
Dr Murray also examined a timer power unit from a 600lb Lisburn car bomb which was defused by Army technical officers in the city centre, and which Hoey is also charged in connection with.
Earlier in the week, Hoey's defence team claimed that items were added to evidence from this incident before it was taken to be examined by DNA specialists.
The judge, Mr Justice Weir, said it appeared that black tape had been deliberately placed on the lid of a bomb timer after it was retrieved from the scene of the Lisburn attack, and before it was examined by DNA experts at a forensics lab in Birmingham.
On photographs taken in Birmingham, black tape is clearly visible on the lid of the bomb timer - but a forensic scientist told the court that the tape had not been there when he examined the timer months earlier at a laboratory in Northern Ireland.
Defence QC, Orlando Pownall, said he would be arguing that an individual or individuals had placed the tape in the evidence bag. Mr Justice Weir described the appearance of the tape as 'Houdini-like'.
Mr Pownall said: "If the (Lisburn) item had been examined for fingerprints before, as we know it had been, the only possible remaining forensic discipline would have been fibres. So the requirement then in 1998 for the utmost care to be taken when examining and exhibit simply was not there."
Dr Murray said he had taken every measure within his knowledge to prevent contamination of the evidence. He also told the court he had never seen black Army tape used on the Lisburn device and had no idea where it could have come from.
Meanwhile, earlier in the week, prosecution lawyer, Mr Gordon Kerr QC, was forced to accept that evidence from two key prosecution witnesses should be treated "with caution" after question marks were placed over the reliability of their testimonies.
Mr Justice Weir had asked the prosecution to look at the evidence of Scene of Crime Officer, Fiona Cooper, and Detective Chief Inspector Philip Greer Marshall, over the weekend, and to ascertain whether the Crown still considered them to be "witnesses of truth".
Their evidence related to the discovery of a mortar bomb at Altmore Forest Park near Dungannon.
Under cross-examination by Mr Pownall, Miss Cooper admitted amending her statement after consulting Mr Marshall. In turn, Mr Marshall admitted to acting 'improperly' by asking his colleague to "beef up" her witness statement.
In relation to Miss Cooper, Mr Kerr told the court that it was "accepted that there is material upon which the court, as a tribunal of fact, could draw adverse inferences as to the credibility and reliability of Ms Cooper.
"(There is an) acknowledgement that the court should direct itself to treat her evidence with caution.
"In relation to Mr Marshall, a review of the transcript suggests that some of the same issues may arise with this witness," he said.
Hoey faces a total of 58 terrorism charges, including the 29 Omagh murders, all of which he denies. His trial is expected to last for several months.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1853
Published Date: 19-Oct-06
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