Omagh bomb suspect faces hearing

A man who is to be charged with the 29 Omagh bomb atrocity murders will face a remand hearing later today.

Sean Hoey, 35, from south Armagh, may appear by video link from Maghaberry Prison near Lisburn, Co Antrim, where he is already being held on a series of terrorist accusations.

They include membership of the Real IRA, the organisation that bombed Omagh in August 1998. A woman pregnant with twins was among the victims. More than 300 people were injured.

It is understood the date for this hearing had been set before it became known the Director of Public Prosecutions decided to prosecute him for the 29 murders, but it is not known if he will be formally charged today.

There could be a preliminary court inquiry later in advance of a trial which could last for at least six months.

Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan, 21, was among those killed at Omagh, is expected at the remand hearing at Craigavon Court, Co Armagh.

He said: “We know that everything possible is being done by the police investigating this mass murder.”

A criminal trial will almost certainly delay plans for a Northern Ireland High Court civil action by some of the Omagh relatives, who are seeking £14 m (€20.3m) compensation against five men who they claim were responsible for the outrage.

Hoey is not among them.