BOMB TRIAL TO BE SCREENED AT COLLEGE
Bomb trial to be screened at College
BY RONAN McSHERRY
r.mcsherry@ulsterherald.com
THE trial of Sean Hoey, charged with the murders of the 29 people killed in the Omagh bomb, is to be beamed live to town. Barring any further hitches proceedings are due to commence on Monday.
The Northern Ireland Court Service has set-up a video link facility between Belfast Crown Court and Omagh College which will allow the families of the victims to follow the trial.
The video link will be available for the duration of the trial which is expected to last for up to 12 weeks.
Michael Gallagher, chairman of the families support group has welcomed the move. He said, "This is the first time this facility has been set up anywhere in the North and possibly all of Ireland. I am delighted the Court Service is doing this. It gives families and those affected in the Omagh area an opportunity to come and see what is happening in the court room in Belfast rather than have to do a round trip of 150 miles every day. This is going to take an enormous burden of the families who would otherwise have to be away from seven in the morning until seven at night during the trial."
Court orderlies will be present and normal courtroom protocols will apply at the conference room. It will be able to hold between 35 to 40 people with one 42" plasma to receive the feed from Laganside Court No 12 and a projector screen. Family members will have a view of the court room as if they were in the public gallery at the actual trial.
Mr Gallagher, who lost his 21-year-old son Aiden in the bomb added, "My understanding is there will be the same rules and regulation as apply in a courtroom. There will be court officials there and no drink or food allowed."
The trial of Sean Gerard Hoey (37), of Molly Road Jonesborough, Armagh, was dramatically adjourned two weeks ago when senior counsel Orlando Pownall informed the court he was too ill to represent his client.
Hoey is facing 29 murder charges relating to the bomb on August 15,1998 as well as a further 25 explosive charges and seven of conspiring to murder members of the security forces. He has been in custody for about three years.
BY RONAN McSHERRY
r.mcsherry@ulsterherald.com
THE trial of Sean Hoey, charged with the murders of the 29 people killed in the Omagh bomb, is to be beamed live to town. Barring any further hitches proceedings are due to commence on Monday.
The Northern Ireland Court Service has set-up a video link facility between Belfast Crown Court and Omagh College which will allow the families of the victims to follow the trial.
The video link will be available for the duration of the trial which is expected to last for up to 12 weeks.
Michael Gallagher, chairman of the families support group has welcomed the move. He said, "This is the first time this facility has been set up anywhere in the North and possibly all of Ireland. I am delighted the Court Service is doing this. It gives families and those affected in the Omagh area an opportunity to come and see what is happening in the court room in Belfast rather than have to do a round trip of 150 miles every day. This is going to take an enormous burden of the families who would otherwise have to be away from seven in the morning until seven at night during the trial."
Court orderlies will be present and normal courtroom protocols will apply at the conference room. It will be able to hold between 35 to 40 people with one 42" plasma to receive the feed from Laganside Court No 12 and a projector screen. Family members will have a view of the court room as if they were in the public gallery at the actual trial.
Mr Gallagher, who lost his 21-year-old son Aiden in the bomb added, "My understanding is there will be the same rules and regulation as apply in a courtroom. There will be court officials there and no drink or food allowed."
The trial of Sean Gerard Hoey (37), of Molly Road Jonesborough, Armagh, was dramatically adjourned two weeks ago when senior counsel Orlando Pownall informed the court he was too ill to represent his client.
Hoey is facing 29 murder charges relating to the bomb on August 15,1998 as well as a further 25 explosive charges and seven of conspiring to murder members of the security forces. He has been in custody for about three years.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1865
Published Date: 21-Sep-06
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