Judge and lawyer locking horns

By Chris Buckler BBC Newsline

Orlando Pownall QC delayed the start of the Omagh bomb trial at the start of September - when he announced in court he was simply too ill for it to begin.

But the main defence lawyer has made his mark, since the case got under way on Monday.

Orlando Pownall has clashed with the trial judge

A legal chambers guide describes him as "exceptionally gifted" - who "finds favour for his seemingly laid-back but ultimately muscular style".

And he has questioned important prosecution evidence throughout this first week.

The focus has been on attacks in 1998 ahead of the Omagh bombing, which 37-year-old Sean Hoey is also accused of.

They include an attempted car bombing in Lisburn and several mortar attacks on security force bases.

In the witness box - scenes of crime officers and Army witnesses have been forced to admit that evidence could have been forensically altered or contaminated.

These are items which have been analysed for DNA and fibre evidence in an attempt to link them to Sean Hoey.

But there have been clashes between Mr Justice Weir and Mr Pownall, who's not used to a Diplock court where the judge decides the verdict.

At one stage the judge told the defence QC: "Do not waste time trying to impress a jury when there isn't one."

Charges denied

At other stages he's reminded him Northern Ireland legal rules differ to those in England.

"When in Rome," he said - advising Mr Pownall that it would be rather easier for him to "adapt to his ways" rather than the judge learning his.

The judge has also been clearly frustrated by some prosecution witnesses in these opening days of the trial.

There have been several queries about whether items were properly kept track of and stored.

At one point a police officer revealed a special property register, which kept track of evidence in a police store, was missing when he looked for it.

On Friday a witness was allowed to hold on to his notes - but advising him to keep the book safe Mr Justice Weir said "don't put it in the special property store."

Sean Hoey, an electrician from Jonesborough in South Armagh, denies all 58 charges which he's facing. They include 29 counts of murder which relate to the Omagh bombing.

The trial will resume on Monday.