Prosecution makes progress in case against man charged with 29 Omagh murders.
A senior member of the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) has indicated that the case against the Monaghan man charged with murdering 29 people in the Omagh bomb will be ready to proceed to the Crown Court in August. Seamus Daly (43) appeared at Omagh Magistrates Court on Tuesday via a video-link from Maghaberry Prison. He faces 31 charges in connection with the August 1998 Real IRA atrocity, including 29 counts of murder. Unborn twins were also killed in the bombing. He is further charged with causing the explosion on August 15 1998 and possessing a bomb in Omagh, with intent to endanger life. He is also charged with conspiring to cause an explosion and possessing explosives with intent in connection with an attempt to detonate a bomb in Market Square, Lisburn earlier in 1998. Originally from Culloville in Co Monaghan, Daly’s address in court was given as Kilnasaggart Road, Jonesborough, Co Armagh. Relatives of some of those killed in the Omagh bomb, including Michael Gallagher, Godfrey Wilson and Stanley McCombe, were present in the local courthouse for the hearing on Tuesday. ‘VERY GOOD PROGRESS’ Four weeks ago at the previous hearing on the progress of the case, PPS barrister Michael Chambers said the authorities in the North were seeking mobile phone evidence from their counterparts in the Republic Of Ireland. This week, he told the court that the evidence has been provided from the Republic of Ireland adding there has been “very good” progress since the last hearing. He stated that the PSNI are “satisfied” they have all the information needed regarding the mobile phone material. He also indicated that important witness material has been obtained. However, Mr Chambers said there remains “one small outstanding” – an interview given by Daly to An Garda Síochána when he accepted ownership of the mobile phone. The prosecution lawyer said it was used in the trial of Sean Hoey, and is “critical” for the prima facie case against Daly. In 2007 Hoey from Jonesborough in Co Armagh was cleared of the murders of 29 people who died in the Omagh bomb. Mr Chambers explained that statements have to be transferred to paper with a ‘Northern Ireland’ mark, adding that Gardai will have to travel from “four corners of Ireland” for this to be completed. He said they will only be needed to confirm that the statement is accurate. He asked for another three weeks to collate the outstanding evidence and said he expects Daly will be committed to the Crown Court for trial in “mid to late August”. ‘ALL MATERIAL’ Defence barrister Peter Corrigan said it was incumbent on the authorities to make available “all material in the interviews” of the prosecution witness Dennis O’Connor. He added, “…That includes contradictory statements given.” District Judge Bernie Kelly said it was not a matter for the court proceedings at this time, to which Mr Corrigan responded that he wanted the issue “put on record”.
