SUSPECT TO FACE MURDER CHARGES
Suspect to face murder charges
BY ADRIAN MULLAN
A SUSPECT is about to be charged with the murder of 29 people in the Omagh bomb atrocity, it emerged last night. While police in Belfast were remaining tight-lipped, it is widely reported that a man already in custody on other charges is about to be served with the murder charges.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has given the police the go-ahead to press charges against one man after reading a recent report on the huge murder investigation. However, a police spokesperson would only say that the investigation is still live and that the "senior officer has received directions which are being processed".
It is believed that papers will be served on Sean Gerard Hoey, a 35-year-old man from Jonesborough in South Armagh. This is expected to happen later this month.
It is also understood that new evidence has emerged following the involvement in the investigation of an international team of scientists.
Hoey is being held at Maghaberry Prison on possession of explosives charges and in connection with other incidents, including one related to the August 15,1998, Omagh bomb. He is due to appear at a remand hearing at Craigavon on May 19.
If the charges are brought toward on the Omagh bomb atrocity, which claimed 31 lives, including unborn twins, the proceedings would become the biggest mass murder trial in Irish history.
Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Self-help and Support Group, expressed his delight that someone was at last going to be charged with his son's murder and the murder of 28 other people.
"We have faith in the current investigating team," said Mr Gallagher. "The officers have worked very hard to bring those responsible for Omagh before the courts."
Several of the Omagh families has also mounted a civil case against a number of people whom they believed was responsible for the bombing of Omagh. Hoey is not one of those named on the Omagh families' civil writ.
For years after the atrocity, it appeared that the investigation into the blast was running on the spot and, indeed, an investigation by the Police Ombudsman revealed a series of blunders, and even suggested prior knowledge by police of the impending incident.
Moreover, the hopes of victims' families were frustrated on several occasions, the most recent of which was when Colm Murphy, the only individual convicted on any charge in relation to the actual bombing, was acquitted on appeal. Just over a year ago the Policing Board heard that the Omagh investigation had more resources committed to it than any other investigation and that some 200 officers were currently workings the case.
A new PSNI investigation got under way in 2002 led by assistant Chief Constable Sam Kinkaid, with Detective Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter as the senior investigating officer.
BY ADRIAN MULLAN
A SUSPECT is about to be charged with the murder of 29 people in the Omagh bomb atrocity, it emerged last night. While police in Belfast were remaining tight-lipped, it is widely reported that a man already in custody on other charges is about to be served with the murder charges.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has given the police the go-ahead to press charges against one man after reading a recent report on the huge murder investigation. However, a police spokesperson would only say that the investigation is still live and that the "senior officer has received directions which are being processed".
It is believed that papers will be served on Sean Gerard Hoey, a 35-year-old man from Jonesborough in South Armagh. This is expected to happen later this month.
It is also understood that new evidence has emerged following the involvement in the investigation of an international team of scientists.
Hoey is being held at Maghaberry Prison on possession of explosives charges and in connection with other incidents, including one related to the August 15,1998, Omagh bomb. He is due to appear at a remand hearing at Craigavon on May 19.
If the charges are brought toward on the Omagh bomb atrocity, which claimed 31 lives, including unborn twins, the proceedings would become the biggest mass murder trial in Irish history.
Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Self-help and Support Group, expressed his delight that someone was at last going to be charged with his son's murder and the murder of 28 other people.
"We have faith in the current investigating team," said Mr Gallagher. "The officers have worked very hard to bring those responsible for Omagh before the courts."
Several of the Omagh families has also mounted a civil case against a number of people whom they believed was responsible for the bombing of Omagh. Hoey is not one of those named on the Omagh families' civil writ.
For years after the atrocity, it appeared that the investigation into the blast was running on the spot and, indeed, an investigation by the Police Ombudsman revealed a series of blunders, and even suggested prior knowledge by police of the impending incident.
Moreover, the hopes of victims' families were frustrated on several occasions, the most recent of which was when Colm Murphy, the only individual convicted on any charge in relation to the actual bombing, was acquitted on appeal. Just over a year ago the Policing Board heard that the Omagh investigation had more resources committed to it than any other investigation and that some 200 officers were currently workings the case.
A new PSNI investigation got under way in 2002 led by assistant Chief Constable Sam Kinkaid, with Detective Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter as the senior investigating officer.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1804
Published Date: 05-May-05
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