Judge delivers Omagh bomb verdict

Twenty-nine people died in Omagh on 15 August 1998

The judge in the trial of the man accused of involvement in the Omagh bomb has begun delivering his verdict.

Sean Hoey, 38, from Molly Road in Jonesborough, denies a total of 56 charges, including the murders of 29 people killed.

Mr Justice Weir described the attack in August 1998 as "one of the worst atrocities of the Troubles".

During the trial, the prosecution alleged DNA evidence linked him to the attack, but the defence refuted this.

They argued that the evidence was unreliable and did not provide the basis for a conviction.

It was also revealed in court that two police witnesses had lied about how they had gathered some of the forensic evidence.

Much of the prosecution case was based on forensic evidence, particularly a type of DNA evidence, called low copy number DNA - a new and sensitive form of testing.

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

Video link

The judge is giving his verdict 10 months after the end of one of the largest murder trials in UK legal history.

When the trial ended he acknowledged he had a great deal to think about and a great deal of material to look at again.

The families of many of those who died in Omagh on 15 August 1998 are expected to travel to Belfast Crown Court to hear the verdict. Others will watch a video link set up in Omagh College.

In addition to the 29 counts of murder, Sean Hoey is also charged with five counts of conspiracy to murder, four counts of conspiracy to cause an explosion, six counts of causing an explosion, and 12 counts of possession of explosive devices.

The oldest victim in the Omagh bomb was 66 and the youngest just 18-months-old.

There was evidence from hundreds of witnesses during the 56 day trial and there were more than 500 items of evidence.

Charges were brought against Sean Hoey in 2005, after a review of the forensic and scientific evidence.

A new police inquiry began in May 2002 and followed criticism by the then Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman, Nuala O'Loan, of the original investigation by the Royal Ulster Constabulary.