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Trial told of forensic 'errors' | Trial told of forensic 'errors' |
(10 minutes later) | |
A review of the work of the Forensic Science service in Northern Ireland found mistakes in more than a third of cases, the Omagh bomb trial has heard. | A review of the work of the Forensic Science service in Northern Ireland found mistakes in more than a third of cases, the Omagh bomb trial has heard. |
In the last six years, the service had its accreditation suspended twice, after revelations of a falsified signature and lab practice concerns. | In the last six years, the service had its accreditation suspended twice, after revelations of a falsified signature and lab practice concerns. |
About 1,200 cases were checked and 455 were found to contain mistakes. | About 1,200 cases were checked and 455 were found to contain mistakes. |
Sean Hoey, 37, of County Armagh denies a total of 58 charges, including murder as a result of the 1998 Omagh bombing. | Sean Hoey, 37, of County Armagh denies a total of 58 charges, including murder as a result of the 1998 Omagh bombing. |
Mr Hoey is an electrician from Molly Road, Jonesborough. | Mr Hoey is an electrician from Molly Road, Jonesborough. |
The Omagh bomb trial heard that a review of the FSNI's work was carried out by a consultancy firm, during a time when the UK Accreditation Service had suspended the service's accreditation. | The Omagh bomb trial heard that a review of the FSNI's work was carried out by a consultancy firm, during a time when the UK Accreditation Service had suspended the service's accreditation. |
A series of cases were checked between 2001 and 2003. In that two-year period it was responsible for about 2,400 cases - of those, a sample 1,200 were reviewed. | A series of cases were checked between 2001 and 2003. In that two-year period it was responsible for about 2,400 cases - of those, a sample 1,200 were reviewed. |
The firm found 455 of the cases contained mistakes - more than a third. | The firm found 455 of the cases contained mistakes - more than a third. |
The acting operations director of the Forensic Science Services Northern Ireland, Samuel James Speers, said the errors were "generally administrative" and they were not all the responsibility of that agency. | |
DNA confusion | DNA confusion |
But the judge, Mr Justice Weir, asked if that mattered. | |
He added: "Whether the errors were caused by the police or the laboratory, errors still resulted". | He added: "Whether the errors were caused by the police or the laboratory, errors still resulted". |
On Tuesday, Mr Speers is expected to face further questioning about the reasons for the lab's accreditation being suspended twice - once in 2001 and once in 2003. | On Tuesday, Mr Speers is expected to face further questioning about the reasons for the lab's accreditation being suspended twice - once in 2001 and once in 2003. |
Earlier there were more questions about the reliability of Low Copy Number DNA - a key part of the prosecution case and an issue that has dominated the trial for weeks. | Earlier there were more questions about the reliability of Low Copy Number DNA - a key part of the prosecution case and an issue that has dominated the trial for weeks. |
Dr Peter Gill a forensic scientist and expert in the field accepted that there was still a "lot of confusion" about the technique and differences in how it is used worldwide. | |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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