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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Expert's Omagh evidence admission | Expert's Omagh evidence admission |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A top forensic scientist has admitted Omagh bomb trial evidence could have been contaminated with Sean Hoey's DNA when it was examined in a laboratory. | A top forensic scientist has admitted Omagh bomb trial evidence could have been contaminated with Sean Hoey's DNA when it was examined in a laboratory. |
| The court heard tape seized by police from his home in 1998 was compared with tape taken off bomb timers. | The court heard tape seized by police from his home in 1998 was compared with tape taken off bomb timers. |
| Forensic scientist Dennis McAuley said they did not protect against dangers of contamination as the items were not suitable for DNA analysis at that time. | Forensic scientist Dennis McAuley said they did not protect against dangers of contamination as the items were not suitable for DNA analysis at that time. |
| Mr Hoey denies 58 charges including the murder of 29 people in Omagh in 1998. | Mr Hoey denies 58 charges including the murder of 29 people in Omagh in 1998. |
| The rolls of tape were seized from the accused's home in September 1998, just over a month after the Omagh bombing. | |
| Forensic scientists compared them with tape taken off bomb timers in a series of attacks that year. | |
| They did not find any matches but when comparing them, they were not protecting the items from potential DNA contamination. | |
| New statement | |
| Mr McAuley admitted there was the real possibility of Mr Hoey's DNA being transferred onto the evidence. | |
| Low copy number DNA - a technique whereby DNA profiles can be obtained from samples containing only a few cells - is an important part of the prosecution case. | |
| The judge, Mr Justice Weir, has asked Mr McAuley to prepare a new statement to take into account some of these issues. | |
| It will be given to the court when it resumes on 7 November after a one-week break. | |
| It was also revealed that the police have lost five bomb timers - some used in attacks in 1998. | |
| The timers are similar to the ones used in the series of attacks that the accused is charged with, and could potentially have been important evidence. | |
| The case continues. |