Hoey's mother: 'My son is innocent'

The mother of the man cleared of all charges in connection wiuth the Omagh bombing, Sean Hoey, insisted tonight that her son was innocent.

Speaking outside the court, Rita Hoey said: “I want the world to know that my son, Sean Hoey, is innocent. I want everyone to know that this is not a failure to bring those responsible to justice – Sean is innocent.”

She said the authorities north and south of the Border had both conducted trials but it had been a single witch-hunt.

“In both trials police officers have been exposed as lying through their teeth to secure convictions at any cost.”

Mrs Hoey, speaking after her son had slipped out of a back entrance of the court to be escorted away, supported the Omagh families’ demands for a cross-border public inquiry.

She said: “I want to ask the question regarding the Omagh tragedy – who has the most to fear from such an inquiry? What are the authorities north and south covering up?”

Mrs Hoey offered thanks to many of the Omagh families, saying: “As a mother, I would like to thank those from among the Omagh families – who have all suffered enormously – but who eventually saw this as an injustice and had the moral conviction to speak out.”

Mr Hoey’s solicitor, Peter Corrigan, said: “Sean Hoey has always denied all the charges proffered against him. Today’s judgment completely vindicates him. Sean Hoey is an innocent man.”