Omagh bomb was 'similar' to other

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There were similarities between a car bomb in Lisburn and the 1998 Omagh bomb, Belfast Crown Court has heard.

Sean Hoey, 37, from Jonesborough, County Armagh, denies the 58 terrorism charges against him.

The Omagh bomb trial heard police and Army witnesses say another attack some months before the 1998 car bomb - which killed 29 people - had similarities.

They said a 600lb car bomb made safe in Lisburn in April that year had a virtually identical timer unit.

The witnesses said in both cases wooden planks were put in the suspension of the cars to disguise the weight of homemade explosives in the boot.

The case against Mr Hoey, of Molly Road, resumed on Monday after being adjourned earlier this month.

He denies involvement in the bombing in August 1998 in which 29 people died, including a woman pregnant with twins.

The accused faces 58 terror charges, including five other bombings, four bomb conspiracies, and six murder conspiracies, to which he pleaded not guilty.

The proceedings are being broadcast in Omagh for the victims' families, under the same rules as would apply in court.

The link, between Belfast Crown Court and Omagh College was set up at the request of a relatives' support group and will be available for the duration of the trial.