Omagh bombing trial delayed
The trial of an electrician accused of the 29 Omagh bombing murders has been delayed, it emerged today.
Preliminary hearings in the case against south Armagh man Sean Hoey, 35, will not begin for at least another two months.
Hoey, of Molly Road, Jonesborough, appeared by video link from Maghaberry Prison during a five-minute hearing at Belfast Magistrates’ Court today.
Magistrate Desmond Perry said he had hoped to start preliminary hearings next Wednesday, but revealed that a new date of August 30 has now been proposed.
It is understood legal papers requested by his defence lawyers were only received within the last week.
Hoey is the first man to be charged with murder over the August 1998 Omagh bombing. He denies the allegations.
Along with the 29 people killed, hundreds more were injured in the car bomb attack – Northern Ireland’s worst ever terrorist atrocity.
He also faces a string of other explosives and terrorist-related charges, including membership of the Real IRA which carried out the no-warning attack.
Mr Perry told the court: “What I propose to do is remand Mr Hoey for four weeks, until July 20, with a view to confirming arrangements for August 30.”
