Omagh case 'should be thrown out'

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The defence at the Omagh bomb trial want the case thrown out because of "shortcomings, lies and mysteries".

Sean Hoey, 37, of Jonesborough, County Armagh, denies 58 charges, including the 29 murders in Omagh in August 1998.

Lawyer Orlando Pownall QC said no evidence introduced at the trial had shown that Sean Hoey made the timers used in Omagh and other attacks.

He said a wholesale lack of care had been taken by scenes of crime officers, police, and forensic labs.

Mr Pownall said that was of particular concern because it "could have had an effect on the DNA results being used in this case".

'Mysteries'

While Mr Justice Weir said he accepted that there were points to be made about shortcomings, he said he was interested in "practical examples, not theories".

Mr Pownall went on to highlight mysteries such as the appearance of tape on evidence, after it was examined in a forensic lab in Northern Ireland, but some time before it was examined in England.

It has never been explained how that could have happened.

He also called for the evidence of two witnesses to be excluded.

Mr Pownall said scenes of crime officer Fiona Cooper and Detective Chief Inspector Philip Marshall "had been shown to lie under oath".

The defence will complete their application for the case itself to be thrown out on Monday and the Crown will be given the chance to respond.