http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/05/05/nomagh05.xml
Man faces 29 Omagh bomb murder charges
By Thomas Harding and Tom Peterkin
(Filed: 05/05/2005)
An electrician is to face 29 counts of murder in connection with the
Omagh bombing, it was disclosed last night.
Sean Hoey, the first person to face a murder charge after the worst
atrocity of the Troubles, is in custody awaiting trial on terrorism
charges.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has approved the move that paves
the way for one of Britain's biggest mass murder trials.
Among the victims of the Real IRA's 500lb car bomb were 11 children,
including an 18-month-old girl, a mother pregnant with twins and a
mother of 12 children. More than 300 people were injured.
The bomb went off in the Co Tyrone market town just after 3pm on
Saturday Aug 15 1998 after several confusing warnings from terrorists.
Michael McKevitt, the republican splinter group's leader, was jailed
for 20 years in Dublin in 2003 on a charge of directing terrorism.
Twenty nine people died in the Real IRA attack
Another alleged Real IRA member, Colm Murphy, Hoey's uncle, faces a
retrial after he was convicted then acquitted of conspiracy to cause
explosions.
Frustrated by years of fruitless police investigation, victims'
families took an unprecedented civil action against five alleged Real
IRA men, including McKevitt and Murphy, suing them for damages over
the murder.
The case was expected to go to the High Court in Belfast later this
year but will be delayed until the end of current criminal proceedings.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden, 21, was among the victims,
welcomed the prosecution.
"We thought we would never see someone charged with murder for Omagh
and I think that this current investigation has been very effective,"
he said.
"I would like to see the day when I can put all this behind me, happy
to know we have done everything possible. We hope this will not be the
last person charged with murder for Omagh."
Victor Barker, a solicitor from Surrey whose son James, 12, was
killed, said: "It's marvellous, but it has taken an awful long time.
This is down to the dedication of the new investigation team."
Godfrey Wilson, whose 15-year-old daughter Lorraine died, said: "We
have been waiting seven years to get the justice system to work for us
and I pray it doesn't take another seven years to bring the others to
justice."
The DPP authorised the prosecution after a new investigation that
involved a complex 18-month review of all the scientific evidence by
specialists from Toronto, New York and Switzerland.
Papers outlining details of the charges are due to be served this
month on Hoey, 35, from Jonesborough, south Armagh. He is also accused
of explosives charges, as well as possessing timer units allegedly
linked to several mortar, car and roadside bombs in the months before
Omagh.
The new inquiry followed damning criticism by the Northern Ireland
Police Ombudsman, Nuala O'Loan, of the first investigation by the
Royal Ulster Constabulary
A spokesman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: "The
current position is that the senior investigating officer has received
instructions from the DPP which are being processed."
A trial date could be set later this year with Garda officers from
Dublin and the borders among the witnesses.
Hoey, who is due to appear at a remand hearing at Craigavon, Co
Armagh, this month, denies any involvement in the Omagh attack.
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