'DNA evidence links Omagh suspect to three explosions'

An electrician accused of the 29 Omagh bomb murders has been linked to three terrorist explosions by DNA evidence, a court heard today.

A voice analyst also believes Mr Hoey, 35, may have telephoned through the warning on another attack weeks before the August 1998 Real IRA massacre.

As committal proceedings against Hoey, of Molly Road, Jonesborough, South Armagh, began at Belfast Magistrates Court it took more than 20 minutes to read out all 61 terrorist and explosives charges against him.

Hoey sat expressionless in the dock while Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden died in the carnage at Omagh, listened in the public gallery.

Hoey has been accused of involvement in a bombing campaign across the North that culminated in the no warning strike on the County Tyrone market town.

As well as killing 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, hundreds more were injured in the worst single atrocity of the troubles.

Defence barrister Martin O’Rourke argued against the admissibility of evidence supplied by a forensic expert who examined 12 devices Hoey has been accused of involvement with.

In only three of these was the verdict that the same person more than likely built the devices, the lawyer said.

In another seven cases the same bomb-maker may have been involved, the court was told.

“This evidence isn’t admissible because it isn’t probative of anything against the defendant,” Mr O’Rourke said.

The barrister tried to cast doubt on Hoey’s connection to the 12th bombing in Banbridge, Co Down, weeks before the fatal explosion in Omagh.

After studying taped interviews with the accused and a recording of the bomb warning, a voice analyst believed that there were some similarities, the barrister told the court.

He said: “She then comes to the conclusion that it’s somewhat more likely than not to be the same speaker as Sean Hoey.

“There isn’t any national database for voice analysis. It’s purely the subject of opinion of a so-called expert and she’s not entitled to express an opinion in the way she has done so.”

Gordon Kerr QC,for the Crown, said the evidence linking Hoey to Banbridge was part of a multi-layered case.

The attack on the town was part of a series of bombings all carried out by one terrorist organisation.

He added: “It may be correct to say that the only direct link to Banbridge is his voice.

“But when you put his DNA on three of the devices and all the devices being from one organisation it’s a very different case.”

Mr Kerr also told the court fibre evidence connecting one man to five of the bombs had been identified.

Magistrate Desmond Perry rejected the move by Hoey’s defence to have the forensic experts’ evidence thrown out.

His job was not to rule on the accused’s innocence or guilt, but simply to decide whether the evidence could be used at trial, he told the hearing.

“It’s all too easy for the defence to take evidence in isolation and say it doesn’t meet the standard required,” Mr Perry added.

“I’m persuaded by Mr Kerr that one has to take a global look at this case.”

The committal hearing, which is expected to last for three days, was adjourned until later when the first of seven forensic and police witnesses will be called.