Omagh victim’s father criticises Government

A RELATIVE of one of the Omagh bomb victims has questioned why no one has been charged here with direct involvement in the 1998 atrocity.

Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden died in the bombing, has accused the Irish Government of not putting enough effort into pursuing the killers.

Mr Gallagher spoke as a Belfast court ruled that a 36-year-old Armagh man should be committed for trial on charges of masterminding the slaughter that killed 29 people, including a woman expecting twins.

Magistrate Desmond Perry said after hearing three days of evidence he was satisfied Sean Hoey had a case to answer.

The electrician from Molly Road, Jonesborough, was remanded in custody for trial at Belfast Crown Court at a date to be decided. The trial is not expected to be before next spring.

Hoey faces 58 charges relating to the Omagh bombing in 1998 and 10 other bomb attacks carried out by the Real IRA. Three further charges relating to a bombing in Belfast were dismissed by the magistrate.

Relatives of those killed said they were relieved the trial will go ahead.

Mr Gallagher sat through the committal proceedings with his wife. He said: “We look forward to the start of the trial next year.

“These last three days have been very, very difficult and I felt very nervous. It is a tremendous relief to know that at least one person is going to stand trial. I hope it is only a beginning and others will be brought to justice.”

One man, Colm Murphy, was convicted here of being involved in the Omagh bomb conspiracy, but this was later overturned and a retrial ordered.

“The bomb team came from there and I am going to continue to press the Irish government to put more effort into the case,” said Mr Gallagher.

Laurence Rush, whose wife Libby was killed, said he felt overcome. “This is one hurdle we have got over, I am very happy. I am very relieved that there is at least one person going to stand trial for the murder of my wife.”

The court was told Hoey could be linked by fibre evidence to eight bombs and to three more by DNA evidence, for which, the magistrate said, he could find “no innocent explanation”.

Mr Hoey stood expressionless in the dock, shaking his head and mouthing the word “no” when asked if he had anything to say.

His solicitor Peter Corrigan said he was very disappointed at the magistrate’s ruling. “I don’t think it was the right decision,” he said.

Mr Corrigan said the evidence was that Hoey “may, or possibly” have constructed bombs, “not enough to send a man to trial on in one of the biggest cases in Irish or British history”.