Ruling in Omagh trial today

The judge in the Omagh bomb trial in Belfast will decide today if two of the 58 charges faced by electrician Seán Hoey should…

The judge in the Omagh bomb trial in Belfast will decide today if two of the 58 charges faced by electrician Seán Hoey should be dismissed.

The defence team for the 37-year-old south Armagh man claimed yesterday there had been "a unity of purpose, otherwise known as a conspiracy" by police to "bury" evidence in relation to explosives offences.

However, while the prosecution accepted there was "a potential for prejudice" against Hoey, it claimed there was nothing to suggest "there was a deliberate conspiracy".

Mr Justice Weir said he wanted "to give a little thought" to the submissions on whether he should "stay proceedings" on charges surrounding a murder conspiracy and mortar bomb find at Altmore Forest, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, on April 15th, 2001.

Defence QC Orlando Pownall claimed that Hoey "would not get a fair trial".

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