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Man not guilty of Omagh murders Man not guilty of Omagh murders
(31 minutes later)
A Northern Ireland man has been cleared of the murders of 29 people who died in the Omagh bomb attack in 1998.A Northern Ireland man has been cleared of the murders of 29 people who died in the Omagh bomb attack in 1998.
Sean Hoey, 38, of Molly Road in Jonesborough, was found not guilty of a total of 56 charges, including those not directly linked to the bombing.Sean Hoey, 38, of Molly Road in Jonesborough, was found not guilty of a total of 56 charges, including those not directly linked to the bombing.
Speaking at Belfast Crown Court, Mr Justice Weir was critical of police evidence and said they were guilty of a "deliberate and calculated deception".Speaking at Belfast Crown Court, Mr Justice Weir was critical of police evidence and said they were guilty of a "deliberate and calculated deception".
He said transcripts of the trial had been sent to the police ombudsman.He said transcripts of the trial had been sent to the police ombudsman.
In delivering his verdict, Mr Justice Weir referred to "a most disturbing situation exposed by the defence".In delivering his verdict, Mr Justice Weir referred to "a most disturbing situation exposed by the defence".
The judge said he was not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that prosecution submissions showed that all explosive devices were made by one person.The judge said he was not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that prosecution submissions showed that all explosive devices were made by one person.
He also said he was not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that fibres found on an explosive device and a mobile home that Mr Hoey lived in matched.He also said he was not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that fibres found on an explosive device and a mobile home that Mr Hoey lived in matched.
Mr Rush was criticial of the police case Rita Hoey said the trial had been a witch-hunt
Speaking after Thursday's verdict, Lawrence Rush, whose wife Elizabeth died in the explosion, said the case had been handled disastrously by the police. Speaking after Thursday's verdict, Mr Hoey's solicitor, Peter Corrigan, said his client was an innocent man who had been completely vindicated.
"Today's judgement - a reasoned, lengthy and well considered judgement - completely vindicated this position that he maintained. Sean Hoey is an innocent man," he said.
Outside the court, Mr Hoey's mother Rita said: "I want the world to know that my son Sean Hoey is innocent.
"The authorities north and south have held two separate trials, but one witch-hunt."
Lawrence Rush, whose wife Elizabeth died in the explosion, said the case had been handled disastrously by the police.
"I wouldn't have liked the wrong man to be charged," he said."I wouldn't have liked the wrong man to be charged," he said.
Michael Gallagher, whose son, Aidan was killed in the bombing, said a cross-border inquiry into the bombing should be set up by the British and Irish governments. Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was killed in the bombing, said a cross-border inquiry into the bombing should be set up by the British and Irish governments.
"They can no longer refuse to give families such an inquiry. This case has been a disgrace by any standards," he said. "We will never see another case like this again. I think that there was a lot of politics involved in Omagh," he said.
"There wasn't an atrocity in the history of the Troubles that more was known about, and yet least was done about."
A police statement said they would study Mr Justice Weir's judgement in detail and would work to ensure that any organisational or procedural shortcomings were addressed.A police statement said they would study Mr Justice Weir's judgement in detail and would work to ensure that any organisational or procedural shortcomings were addressed.
"We also await the outcome of a police ombudsman investigation into two officers who gave evidence during the trial," it said "We also await the outcome of a police ombudsman investigation into two officers who gave evidence during the trial," it said.
The verdict was delivered after a trial which lasted a total of 56 days. It is believed police spent a total of £16m on their investigation.
During the trial which ended in January, it was revealed that two police witnesses had lied about how they had gathered some of the forensic evidence.
Twenty-nine people died in Omagh on 15 August 1998Twenty-nine people died in Omagh on 15 August 1998
Much of the prosecution case was based on forensic evidence, particularly a type of DNA evidence, called low copy number DNA - a new and sensitive form of testing. The verdict was delivered after a trial which lasted a total of 56 days over a period of 10 months.
The defence had challenged low copy number DNA and prosecution experts themselves also differed in their evidence as to how reliable they believed it to be. It was one of the biggest murder trials in UK legal history.
The trial lasted 10 months and was one of the biggest murder trials in UK legal history. During the trial, which ended in January, it was revealed that two police witnesses had lied about how they had gathered some of the forensic evidence.
The families of many of those who died in Omagh on 15 August 1998 travelled to Belfast Crown Court to hear the verdict. Others watched a video-link set up in Omagh College.
In addition to the 29 counts of murder, Sean Hoey was also charged with five counts of conspiracy to murder, four counts of conspiracy to cause an explosion, six counts of causing an explosion and 12 counts of possession of explosive devices.In addition to the 29 counts of murder, Sean Hoey was also charged with five counts of conspiracy to murder, four counts of conspiracy to cause an explosion, six counts of causing an explosion and 12 counts of possession of explosive devices.
The oldest victim in the Omagh bomb was 66 and the youngest just 18-months-old.
There was evidence from hundreds of witnesses during the trial and there were more than 500 items of evidence.
Charges were brought against Sean Hoey in 2005, after a review of the forensic and scientific evidence.
A new police inquiry began in May 2002 and followed criticism by the then Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman, Nuala O'Loan, of the original investigation by the Royal Ulster Constabulary.