Judge to consider Omagh verdict

Twenty-nine people died in the Omagh bombing

The Omagh bomb trial has ended with the judge acknowledging he has a great deal to think about and a great deal of material to look at again.

Mr Justice Weir reserved judgement in the case.

Sean Hoey, 37, from Jonesborough, County Armagh, denies a total of 56 charges, including 29 counts of murder as a result of the 1998 Omagh bombing.

The judge said he would give his verdict in the case as soon as possible.

The prosecution case had many strands, including fibre evidence which they say shows connections between Mr Hoey's home and some of the bombings.

They also say there are similarities between the bomb timers used in the series of attacks in 1998.

However, probably the most important strand was DNA evidence, specifically a type called low copy number DNA.

This is a relatively new and very sensitive form of testing.

Mr Justice Weir has said there is currently no international set of standards for it.

The defence have fiercely challenged low copy number DNA and prosecution experts themselves have differed in their evidence as to how reliable they believe it to be.

The defence also raised a range of other issues in its final submission including questions over the integrity of evidence and the "beefing up" of statements from witnesses.

The Omagh trial lasted a total of 56 days.