Armagh man to be charged with Omagh bomb murders today

A 35-year-old south Armagh man is expected to be charged with carrying out the Omagh bombing during a court appearance in the North today.

Sean Gerard Hoey, an electrician, is already in custody awaiting trial on other paramilitary offences, including possession of explosives.

In court last week, prosecutors said he would face an additional 61 charges this week, including 29 counts of murder related to the Real IRA bomb attack in Omagh, Co Tyrone, in August 1998.

His legal team, however, said it would be seeking to have the case halted due to the length of time taken to bring the charges and the prosecution's alleged manipulation of the process.

Nobody has ever been directly charged with carrying out the Omagh bombing, which killed 29 people and injured hundreds more.