OMAGH BOMB ACCUSED BACK IN COURT THIS WEEK
Omagh bomb accused back in court this week
Sixty-one new charges will be put against electrician Sean Gerard Hoey from Armagh, the man accused of the Omagh bomb murders, when he appears in court in person this week.
These charges were confirmed by a prosecution lawyer on Thursday, at a hearing at Craigavon Magistrates court.
Hoey, who already faces a series of terrorist and explosive-related charges - including membership of the dissident republican organisation behind Northern Ireland's worst terrorist atrocity - is due to be formally charged with the 29 murders following a major review of forensic evidence.
After studying a mammoth police file the director of public prosecutions directed that he could be accused.
His solicitor, Peter Corrigan is outraged by the prosecutors decision and how the case has been handled. At Craigavon Magistrates Court last Thursday, Hoey's solicitor told the court that his client 'was first interviewed in 1998 about Omagh and other offences'. He added " We submit that the prosecution has been conducted in a most unacceptable manner. The prosecution have manipulated the process".
Mr Corrigan claimed that the court had been misled in the case against Hoey, of Molly Road, Jonesborough, and pledged to launch an abuse of process application in an attempt to have the proceedings stopped.
"Throughout earlier discussions about the case there are no mention of impending murder charges", he said.
Mr Corrigan said that the delay in bringing these charges against his client are a breach of his human rights and will result in prejudicing Hoey in receiving a fair trial.
The accused appeared on Thursday at the Co Armagh courthouse via video link from jail where he is now on remand after being charged with involvement in bombings leading up to the Omagh atrocity.
These include attacks in Fermanagh, Armagh, Banbridge, Newry, as well as two in Belfast.
Michael Gallagher, the father of Aiden Gallagher who was murdered in the 1998 disaster, was present at the court on Thursday for the hearing.
Speaking outside the court after the hearing he said "We are delighted to be here. It's progress in the investigation".
"I will certainly be back next week to see the result of the 61 charges that are being read out and I hope it will not be the last appearance we make in courthouses in connection with Omagh".
Thirty-one people died and more than 300 were injured in the Omagh car bomb in August 1998, the worst single atrocity of the troubles in Northern Ireland.
Sixty-one new charges will be put against electrician Sean Gerard Hoey from Armagh, the man accused of the Omagh bomb murders, when he appears in court in person this week.
These charges were confirmed by a prosecution lawyer on Thursday, at a hearing at Craigavon Magistrates court.
Hoey, who already faces a series of terrorist and explosive-related charges - including membership of the dissident republican organisation behind Northern Ireland's worst terrorist atrocity - is due to be formally charged with the 29 murders following a major review of forensic evidence.
After studying a mammoth police file the director of public prosecutions directed that he could be accused.
His solicitor, Peter Corrigan is outraged by the prosecutors decision and how the case has been handled. At Craigavon Magistrates Court last Thursday, Hoey's solicitor told the court that his client 'was first interviewed in 1998 about Omagh and other offences'. He added " We submit that the prosecution has been conducted in a most unacceptable manner. The prosecution have manipulated the process".
Mr Corrigan claimed that the court had been misled in the case against Hoey, of Molly Road, Jonesborough, and pledged to launch an abuse of process application in an attempt to have the proceedings stopped.
"Throughout earlier discussions about the case there are no mention of impending murder charges", he said.
Mr Corrigan said that the delay in bringing these charges against his client are a breach of his human rights and will result in prejudicing Hoey in receiving a fair trial.
The accused appeared on Thursday at the Co Armagh courthouse via video link from jail where he is now on remand after being charged with involvement in bombings leading up to the Omagh atrocity.
These include attacks in Fermanagh, Armagh, Banbridge, Newry, as well as two in Belfast.
Michael Gallagher, the father of Aiden Gallagher who was murdered in the 1998 disaster, was present at the court on Thursday for the hearing.
Speaking outside the court after the hearing he said "We are delighted to be here. It's progress in the investigation".
"I will certainly be back next week to see the result of the 61 charges that are being read out and I hope it will not be the last appearance we make in courthouses in connection with Omagh".
Thirty-one people died and more than 300 were injured in the Omagh car bomb in August 1998, the worst single atrocity of the troubles in Northern Ireland.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH/015
Published Date: 23-May-05
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