The credibility and reliability of police witnesses in a terrorist bomb trial in Northern Ireland should be treated with caution, a prosecutor has said.
Gordon Kerr QC issued the warning yesterday after studying evidence from police officers investigating the discovery of a car bomb at Altmore Forest Park, Co Tyrone, in April 2001.
Scenes of crime officer Fiona Cooper and investigating officer Det Chief Insp Philip Marshall gave evidence before the Belfast Crown Court trial of Seán Hoey (37), who denies 58 terrorism charges connected with dissident republican activity.
"The court as the tribunal of fact could draw adverse inferences as to the credibility and reliability of Ms Cooper," Mr Kerr said. "[ There is an] acknowledgment that the court should direct itself to treat her evidence with caution. In relation to Mr Marshall, a review of the transcript suggests that some of the same issues may arise with this witness."
Police discovered the mortar device inside a van near Cappagh, Co Tyrone.
Under cross-examination by Orlando Pownall QC, defending, earlier in the trial, Ms Cooper admitted amending her statement after consulting Det Chief Insp Marshall.
It also emerged she had failed to wear items of protective clothing during the operation to recover evidence.
One of the central planks of the trial of Mr Hoey, Molly Road, Jonesborough, Co Armagh, is the presence of low copy DNA at a number of the bomb scenes.
Mr Justice Weir ordered transcripts of the two witnesses' evidence to be drawn up and asked for submissions about the truthfulness of their responses.
Referring to Det Chief Insp Marshall, Mr Pownall conceded: "In his evidence he accepted acting in an improper way in his capacity as investigating officer at the Altmore scene and in taking statements.
"Allowing for his confession as to impropriety, he also, my lord, should be treated as a witness whose evidence should be treated with caution."
This is the 14th day of the trial. Mr Hoey is also accused of involvement in the 1998 Omagh bomb which killed 29 people and unborn twins.
The court also heard evidence from retired fingerprint expert David Elliot who examined parts of a bomb found in Lisburn, near Belfast, on April 30th, 1998.
The judge was told that the date given for the examination was 25 days before the evidence were actually recovered. - (PA)