UH/1970

Barristers paid over £1 m in fees for Omagh bomb case

IT HAS been revealed that three prosecution barristers in the Omagh bomb trial were paid almost £1.2m in fees. The figure does not include the fee for the defence solicitors and barristers which was paid through Legal Aid.
The trial of south Armagh man Sean Hoey which lasted 56 days ended in December 2007. He was cleared of any involvement in the Omagh bombing, the largest loss of life in a single incident during the Troubles. The trial judge said he had to acquit the defendant as the evidence presented to the court was insufficient.
Mr Hoey had maintained his innocence throughout the trial. In his verdict Mr Justice Weir was highly critical of the forensic evidence presented by the prosecution, and the 'slapdash approach' taken by police to some of the evidence.