Man to be charged over Omagh bomb

A suspected terrorist is to be charged with the Omagh bomb massacre that left 29 dead.

Sean Gerard Hoey, 35, will appear in court later this month charged with murder over the 1998 explosion.

It was the worst single terror attack in Northern Ireland during the Troubles and among its victims were children and a woman pregnant with twins.

The case will be one of the biggest mass murder trials in British legal history.

Northern Ireland High Court in Belfast today set an initial court hearing date for 26 May.

Hoey, of Jonesborough, South Armagh, also faces 20 charges connected with bombings in the months leading up to Omagh. He is also accused of being a member of the dissident republican group the Real IRA. He is being held at Maghaberry Prison near Lisburn, County Antrim.

More than 300 people were injured when a 500lb car bomb ripped through the County Tyrone market town on 15 August, 1998.

Families of the victims are currently bringing a civil action to bring five men - not including Hoey - to court over the blast.

But the Belfast office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has given police the goahead to press charges against Hoey after an 18-month review of evidence. Families of those killed say the prospect of justice is long overdue.

Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden, 21, was among those killed, said: "This is the sort of news we have wanted to hear for the last seven years.

"This will not have any detrimental effect on our civil action and as far as the families are concerned it could possibly help."

Surrey solicitor Victor Barker, whose 12-year-old son James was killed, said: "It's marvellous news, but it has taken an awful long time."

At the High Court in Belfast today Gordon Kerr QC said: " We can confirm police received directions on 19 April that murder charges in relation to those killed in the Omagh bombing would be considered by a magistrate at a preliminary inquiry."

Martin O'Rourke, defending Hoey, said he had asked the Crown to give details of any new evidence that would lead to further charges against the defendant.

He said: "I have ascertained from Mr Kerr that papers will contain some additional forensic reports relating to evidence against the defendant.

"At the moment we have been given limited access to some of the forensic reports."

His request for a further adjournment to allow the legal team to study the documents was granted by the judge, Mr Justice Higgins.