SUSPECT IS CHARGED AS FAMILIES LOOK ON
Suspect is charged as families look on
64 crimes listed include 29 murders in Omagh
THE FIRST person ever to be charged with causing the August 1998 bomb stood in a courthouse last Thursday as the families of the Omagh victims looked on. Sean Gerard Hoey, 28 Molly Road, Jonesborough, remained silent as the 64 charges he now faces were read to him.
Dressed in a brown jumper and jeans, Hoey entered the courtroom and sat down in a seat in the dock but he was ordered to stand up by the Resident Magistrate.
The face of the 35-year-old electrician did not change as the 29 charges of murder and each of the victims names were read aloud. Although it is widely accepted that the Omagh bomb claimed 31 lives, Hoey was not charged in relation to the murder of the unborn twins of Avril Monaghan.
Hoey also faced 34 charges ranging from having explosive substances, conspiring to murder in alleged incidents in the Armagh area. Further charges relate to incidents near Dungannon and Belfast. Four charges refer to incidents at Belleek in Co. Fermanagh.
Hoey's solicitor Peter Corrigan said his client's rights were being violated and said there was no new evidence against him. He said the evidence offered by the prosecution was based on witness statements which already existed.
Mr Corrigan also asked the court to order the prosecution team to serve the defence with information and details of an international review commission into the Omagh bomb attack.
Magistrate Alan White refused the application and ordered Hoey to appear at the Laganside courts complex in Belfast the following Tuesday.
"It is obviously in the interests of justice and the interests of everybody that the matter is determined at the earliest stage," he said.
The RM said Belfast Magistrates Court was in a better position to rule on the issues raised by Mr Corrigan.
Mr Corrigan said from the way the details had been leaked to the media before his client being notified, it was clear that the reason for the charges were politically motivated.
Speaking outside the courtroom afterwards Patsy Gallagher, mother of Aiden who died in the bomb, said it was extremely difficult to hear the name of your child being read out and this was echoed by Carol Radford whose brother Alan died in the bomb.
The women said they just keep on going from day to day.
"We have no other choice," they agreed.
They said they have great faith in Supt Norman Baxter who took over the bomb investigation.
"We are confident that he and his team will get more results," said Mrs Gallagher.
Speaking outside to a huge gathering of press from England and Ireland, Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Victims Support Group welcomed the murder charge being brought "seven years after the worst single atrocity of the Troubles".
"It is a very sobering experience to hear all the names of the victims read out, including your son, and to see the man standing in front of you accused of being the perpetrator," he said.
"Some of the families I did not know but after the bomb I have come to know all about them. I hope there will be further prosecutions in the North and I hope that this is not the last time I stand here," said Mr Gallagher.
64 crimes listed include 29 murders in Omagh
THE FIRST person ever to be charged with causing the August 1998 bomb stood in a courthouse last Thursday as the families of the Omagh victims looked on. Sean Gerard Hoey, 28 Molly Road, Jonesborough, remained silent as the 64 charges he now faces were read to him.
Dressed in a brown jumper and jeans, Hoey entered the courtroom and sat down in a seat in the dock but he was ordered to stand up by the Resident Magistrate.
The face of the 35-year-old electrician did not change as the 29 charges of murder and each of the victims names were read aloud. Although it is widely accepted that the Omagh bomb claimed 31 lives, Hoey was not charged in relation to the murder of the unborn twins of Avril Monaghan.
Hoey also faced 34 charges ranging from having explosive substances, conspiring to murder in alleged incidents in the Armagh area. Further charges relate to incidents near Dungannon and Belfast. Four charges refer to incidents at Belleek in Co. Fermanagh.
Hoey's solicitor Peter Corrigan said his client's rights were being violated and said there was no new evidence against him. He said the evidence offered by the prosecution was based on witness statements which already existed.
Mr Corrigan also asked the court to order the prosecution team to serve the defence with information and details of an international review commission into the Omagh bomb attack.
Magistrate Alan White refused the application and ordered Hoey to appear at the Laganside courts complex in Belfast the following Tuesday.
"It is obviously in the interests of justice and the interests of everybody that the matter is determined at the earliest stage," he said.
The RM said Belfast Magistrates Court was in a better position to rule on the issues raised by Mr Corrigan.
Mr Corrigan said from the way the details had been leaked to the media before his client being notified, it was clear that the reason for the charges were politically motivated.
Speaking outside the courtroom afterwards Patsy Gallagher, mother of Aiden who died in the bomb, said it was extremely difficult to hear the name of your child being read out and this was echoed by Carol Radford whose brother Alan died in the bomb.
The women said they just keep on going from day to day.
"We have no other choice," they agreed.
They said they have great faith in Supt Norman Baxter who took over the bomb investigation.
"We are confident that he and his team will get more results," said Mrs Gallagher.
Speaking outside to a huge gathering of press from England and Ireland, Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Victims Support Group welcomed the murder charge being brought "seven years after the worst single atrocity of the Troubles".
"It is a very sobering experience to hear all the names of the victims read out, including your son, and to see the man standing in front of you accused of being the perpetrator," he said.
"Some of the families I did not know but after the bomb I have come to know all about them. I hope there will be further prosecutions in the North and I hope that this is not the last time I stand here," said Mr Gallagher.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH/016
Published Date: 30-May-05
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