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Man not guilty of Omagh murders Man not guilty of Omagh murders
(30 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.
Rita Hoey said the trial had been a witch-huntRita Hoey said the trial had been a witch-hunt
Speaking after Thursday's verdict, Mr Hoey's solicitor, Peter Corrigan, said his client was an innocent man who had been completely vindicated.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."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.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.""The authorities north and south have held two separate trials, but one witch-hunt."
It was concluded that the evidence was sufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of obtaining a conviction Public Prosecution Service Reaction to Omagh verdict
Lawrence Rush, whose wife Elizabeth died in the explosion, said the case had been handled disastrously by the police.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.
It was concluded that the evidence was sufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of obtaining a conviction Public Prosecution Service Reaction to Omagh verdict
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.
"We will never see another case like this again. I think that there was a lot of politics involved in Omagh," he said. 'Consider judgment fully'
"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 Public Prosecution Service said the decision to prosecute Sean Hoey was made following a careful analysis of the available evidence.The Public Prosecution Service said the decision to prosecute Sean Hoey was made following a careful analysis of the available evidence.
"It was concluded that the evidence was sufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of obtaining a conviction," it said. The LCN DNA results were challenged by defence experts who claimed that the scientific community is 'divided' over whether the technique itself is reliable class="" href="/1/hi/northern_ireland/7149505.stm">DNA at heart of case
Stan Brown, chief executive of Northern Ireland's Forensic Science Service, said it was now important "to take time to consider the judgment fully".Stan Brown, chief executive of Northern Ireland's Forensic Science Service, said it was now important "to take time to consider the judgment fully".
"We will look carefully at this judgment and take whatever steps necessary. Where there are lessons to be learnt we will learn them and where there are improvements to be made we will make them," he said. At the heart of the case were the bomb timers used in the attacks. Forensic scientists had examined them for both fibres and Low Copy Number (LCN) DNA.
LCN is a relatively recent development of DNA science which allows analysis of tiny samples of skin cells, sweat and other bodily fluids.
The prosecution claimed that the forensic examination had shown links to the south Armagh electrician.
One of their expert witnesses claimed the chances of the DNA being anyone other than Mr Hoey's were "one in a billion".
But the LCN DNA results were challenged by defence experts who claimed that the scientific community is "divided" over whether the technique itself is reliable.
It is believed police spent a total of £16m on their investigation.It is believed police spent a total of £16m on their investigation.
Twenty-nine people died in Omagh on 15 August 1998Twenty-nine people died in Omagh on 15 August 1998
The verdict was delivered after a trial which lasted a total of 56 days over a period of 10 months.The verdict was delivered after a trial which lasted a total of 56 days over a period of 10 months.
It was one of the biggest murder trials in UK legal history.It 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.
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.