NEW DATE SET FOR OMAGH BOMB TRIAL
New date set for Omagh bomb trial
BY RONAN MCSHERRY
r.mcsherry@ulsterherald.com
DESPITE a date being announced for the start of the Omagh bombtrial, relatives of the victims are still not convinced it will begin on Monday week.
The trial was dramatically adjourned last Monday when senior counsel Orlando Pownall informed the Crown Court in Belfast he was too ill to represent his client.
Sean Gerard Hoey, (37), an electrician of Molly Road, Jonesborough, Co Armagh, is charged with murdering the 29 people and two unborn babies killed in the explosion on August 15, 1998. He also faces a further 25 explosive charges and seven of conspiring to murder members of the security forces.
Trial judge Mr Justice Weir has agreed to adjourn until September 25. He said he wanted to be told immediately if Mr Pownall could not meet the new date.
If the trial does not proceed then, the judge said, he would devise a "backstop solution." Mr Justice Weir said he wanted to fix a firm date for the trial to proceed and was not prepared to allow the case to drift in and out of the lists."
Michael Gallagher, chairman of the families support group, said, "It is certainly very frustrating for the families not knowing for definite. There is no guarantee that this date will be met. We heard the new date from the Press Association and have no say or input into what is decided. Hopefully this time it will begin on the day that has been scheduled."
The families have also been hoping the authorities will organise a venue to beam proceedings live to Omagh. The trial is expected to last up to 12 weeks. This would involve a lot of travelling back and forward to Belfast for relatives and friends of the victims, who wish to attend.
Mr Gallagher, who lost his 21-year-old son Aiden in the bomb said, "I know they were looking at the Teacher Centre on the Dublin Road to see if it is suitable. They were checking whether the cabling was right for taking video link. Again, hopefully that will be sorted out soon. Travelling back and forward each day would be a terrible burden for a large number of people in Omagh, both financially and emotionally."
A Court Service information officer stated, "As yet nothing has been finalised regarding the link-up with Omagh."
Barring further hitches the trial of the only person to face charges for the Omagh bombing will go ahead on Monday week.
BY RONAN MCSHERRY
r.mcsherry@ulsterherald.com
DESPITE a date being announced for the start of the Omagh bombtrial, relatives of the victims are still not convinced it will begin on Monday week.
The trial was dramatically adjourned last Monday when senior counsel Orlando Pownall informed the Crown Court in Belfast he was too ill to represent his client.
Sean Gerard Hoey, (37), an electrician of Molly Road, Jonesborough, Co Armagh, is charged with murdering the 29 people and two unborn babies killed in the explosion on August 15, 1998. He also faces a further 25 explosive charges and seven of conspiring to murder members of the security forces.
Trial judge Mr Justice Weir has agreed to adjourn until September 25. He said he wanted to be told immediately if Mr Pownall could not meet the new date.
If the trial does not proceed then, the judge said, he would devise a "backstop solution." Mr Justice Weir said he wanted to fix a firm date for the trial to proceed and was not prepared to allow the case to drift in and out of the lists."
Michael Gallagher, chairman of the families support group, said, "It is certainly very frustrating for the families not knowing for definite. There is no guarantee that this date will be met. We heard the new date from the Press Association and have no say or input into what is decided. Hopefully this time it will begin on the day that has been scheduled."
The families have also been hoping the authorities will organise a venue to beam proceedings live to Omagh. The trial is expected to last up to 12 weeks. This would involve a lot of travelling back and forward to Belfast for relatives and friends of the victims, who wish to attend.
Mr Gallagher, who lost his 21-year-old son Aiden in the bomb said, "I know they were looking at the Teacher Centre on the Dublin Road to see if it is suitable. They were checking whether the cabling was right for taking video link. Again, hopefully that will be sorted out soon. Travelling back and forward each day would be a terrible burden for a large number of people in Omagh, both financially and emotionally."
A Court Service information officer stated, "As yet nothing has been finalised regarding the link-up with Omagh."
Barring further hitches the trial of the only person to face charges for the Omagh bombing will go ahead on Monday week.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1864
Published Date: 14-Sep-06
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