This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6173333.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Bomb accused claims 'witch hunt' | Bomb accused claims 'witch hunt' |
(30 minutes later) | |
The man accused of murdering 29 people in the Omagh bombing has claimed police were on a witch hunt to "cover up their own inadequacies". | The man accused of murdering 29 people in the Omagh bombing has claimed police were on a witch hunt to "cover up their own inadequacies". |
Sean Hoey from Jonesborough, County Armagh, denies a total of 58 charges. | Sean Hoey from Jonesborough, County Armagh, denies a total of 58 charges. |
Hoey, 37, said if his DNA was on any evidence it was either there innocently or "planted" by police "or some other agency the police are using". | Hoey, 37, said if his DNA was on any evidence it was either there innocently or "planted" by police "or some other agency the police are using". |
The claims were made during police interviews which have been read out at his trial. | The claims were made during police interviews which have been read out at his trial. |
Earlier, the trial heard that an investigation into how bomb timers, linked to the Omagh trial, were lost up to eight years ago, only began a couple of weeks ago. | Earlier, the trial heard that an investigation into how bomb timers, linked to the Omagh trial, were lost up to eight years ago, only began a couple of weeks ago. |
The lost timers had been found at a number of attacks in 1998 and were lost as early as 1998. | The lost timers had been found at a number of attacks in 1998 and were lost as early as 1998. |
The Forensic Science Service in Northern Ireland was responsible for tracking the timer power units. | The Forensic Science Service in Northern Ireland was responsible for tracking the timer power units. |
Jim Speers,was questioned about the bomb timer units | |
In court, its acting operations director, Jim Speers, was questioned about whether their disappearance had ever been investigated. | In court, its acting operations director, Jim Speers, was questioned about whether their disappearance had ever been investigated. |
Initially, he seemed to indicate that an investigation was under way, but he said he had not spoken to anyone about it. | Initially, he seemed to indicate that an investigation was under way, but he said he had not spoken to anyone about it. |
However, during questioning by the defence, Mr Speers paused and asked the judge if he could consult the prosecution lawyers. | However, during questioning by the defence, Mr Speers paused and asked the judge if he could consult the prosecution lawyers. |
Mr Justice Weir looked surprised and told him to answer the questions. | Mr Justice Weir looked surprised and told him to answer the questions. |
He then revealed that he himself had asked for the review - and that he had only done so a couple of weeks ago - that would have been after the issue of the missing timers had been raised in the trial. | He then revealed that he himself had asked for the review - and that he had only done so a couple of weeks ago - that would have been after the issue of the missing timers had been raised in the trial. |
More details of why accreditation was suspended at forensic laboratories in Northern Ireland was also revealed. | More details of why accreditation was suspended at forensic laboratories in Northern Ireland was also revealed. |
The accreditation service had a number of concerns including administrative errors and they discovered equipment had not been properly checked. | The accreditation service had a number of concerns including administrative errors and they discovered equipment had not been properly checked. |
A subsequent review by a consultancy firm found dozens of what it described as significant "non-conformities" or mistakes. | A subsequent review by a consultancy firm found dozens of what it described as significant "non-conformities" or mistakes. |
However, Mr Speers said that none of the errors had a risk "of an unsafe conviction or a miscarriage of justice". | However, Mr Speers said that none of the errors had a risk "of an unsafe conviction or a miscarriage of justice". |
The trial will resume on Thursday when the prosecution is expected to complete its case. | The trial will resume on Thursday when the prosecution is expected to complete its case. |
Previous version
1
Next version