Omagh accused held after bombing

Twenty-nine people died in the Omagh bombing

The Omagh bomb trial has heard evidence that Sean Hoey was first arrested on suspicion of involvement in the atrocity a month after the explosion.

Police went to the 37-year-old's home at Molly Road, Jonesborough, County Armagh, in September 1998 to search it.

Belfast Crown Court was told he had been arrested and officers seized documents, phone records and a mobile phone and insulating tape.

Mr Hoey denies the 29 murders in Omagh and more Real IRA attacks.

In total, he faces 58 terrorism charges.

The court heard that during his detention, hair samples were taken from Mr Hoey and a jumper was sent for forensic analysis.

At trial on Monday, statements were read from officers who had been involved in that search operation, and another at his home in June the following year.

The trial was also told that the prosecution no longer intends to introduce voice analysis evidence which it was suggested could link the accused to a 1998 explosion in Banbridge.

At the start of the trial the Public Prosecution Service said it would call a voice analyst who was of the opinion that the caller who made the bomb warning about a blast in Banbridge two weeks before the Omagh explosion was "more likely than not" to be Mr Hoey.

On Monday, Mr Ciaran Murphy QC for the PPS said that "having received a further report" from the expert, the prosecution "did not intend to lead evidence in respect of voice analysis".

The trial continues.