WARNING FOR OMAGH BOMB LEGAL TEAM
Warning for Omagh bomb legal team
THE prosecution team in the trial of the only man charged with the Omagh bomb has received a warning from a High Court judge.
Mr Justice Weir told the prosecution that if it does not co-operate with the defence, that he will be forced to exclude evidence during the trial.
A lawyer for Sean Hoey, 36, had asked Mr Justice Weir to order the disclosure of electronic data relating to DNA alleged to have been found on three bombs.
A Crown lawyer said the forensic expert who carried out the tests wanted to consult his superiors over the request.
The application in the trial of the south Armagh man was adjourned.
Mr Justice Weir said he wanted it resolved today (Monday).
He said in the High Court on Friday, "I am not going to allow ducks and drakes to be played with this.
"I have power to exclude evidence if proper facilities have not been afforded to the defence and I will have no hesitation in using that power."
Sean Hoey, an electrician, from Molly Road, Jonesborough, County Armagh, is charged with murdering 29 people on August 15, 1998.
Hoey denies the Omagh charges and others connected to more Real IRA attacks, including one in 2001.
Mr Justice Weir said he had previously made it clear that all preliminary matters should be dealt with well in advance of the trial.
He added, "Now I find in the middle of July this sort of nonsense and I am not going to put up with it."
THE prosecution team in the trial of the only man charged with the Omagh bomb has received a warning from a High Court judge.
Mr Justice Weir told the prosecution that if it does not co-operate with the defence, that he will be forced to exclude evidence during the trial.
A lawyer for Sean Hoey, 36, had asked Mr Justice Weir to order the disclosure of electronic data relating to DNA alleged to have been found on three bombs.
A Crown lawyer said the forensic expert who carried out the tests wanted to consult his superiors over the request.
The application in the trial of the south Armagh man was adjourned.
Mr Justice Weir said he wanted it resolved today (Monday).
He said in the High Court on Friday, "I am not going to allow ducks and drakes to be played with this.
"I have power to exclude evidence if proper facilities have not been afforded to the defence and I will have no hesitation in using that power."
Sean Hoey, an electrician, from Molly Road, Jonesborough, County Armagh, is charged with murdering 29 people on August 15, 1998.
Hoey denies the Omagh charges and others connected to more Real IRA attacks, including one in 2001.
Mr Justice Weir said he had previously made it clear that all preliminary matters should be dealt with well in advance of the trial.
He added, "Now I find in the middle of July this sort of nonsense and I am not going to put up with it."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH/034
Published Date: 17-Jun-06
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