An electrician accused of murdering 29 people in the Omagh bomb massacre has been linked to three terrorist explosions by DNA evidence, a Belfast court heard today.
A voice analyst also believes Sean Hoey (35) may have telephoned through the warning on another attack weeks before the August 1998 "Real IRA" massacre.
As committal proceedings against Mr Hoey, of Molly Road, Jonesborough, South Armagh, began at Belfast Magistrates Court it took more than 20 minutes to read out all 61 terrorist and explosives charges against him.
Mr Hoey has been accused of involvement in a bombing campaign across Northern Ireland that culminated in the no warning strike on the Co Tyrone market town.
As well as killing 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, hundreds more were injured in the worst single atrocity of the Troubles.
Defence barrister Martin O'Rourke argued against the admissibility of evidence supplied by a forensic expert who examined 12 devices Hoey has been accused of involvement with.
In only three of these was the verdict that the same person more than likely built the devices, the lawyer said.
In another seven cases the same bomb-maker may have been involved, the court was told.
"This evidence isn't admissible because it isn't probative of anything against the defendant," Mr O'Rourke said.
The barrister tried to cast doubt on Mr Hoey's connection to the 12th bombing in Banbridge, Co Down, weeks before the fatal explosion in Omagh.
After studying taped interviews with the accused and a recording of the bomb warning, a voice analyst believed that there were some similarities, the barrister told the court.
He said: "She then comes to the conclusion that it's somewhat more likely than not to be the same speaker as Sean Hoey.
"There isn't any national database for voice analysis. It's purely the subject of opinion of a so-called expert and she's not entitled to express an opinion in the way she has done so."
But Gordon Kerr QC, for the Crown, said the evidence linking Mr Hoey to Banbridge was part of a multi-layered case.
He said: "It may be correct to say that the only direct link to Banbridge is his voice. . . . But when you put his DNA on three of the devices and all the devices being from one organisation it's a very different case."
Mr Kerr also told the court fibre evidence connecting one man to five of the bombs had been identified.
Magistrate Desmond Perry rejected the move by Mr Hoey's defence to have the forensic experts' evidence thrown out.
The committal hearing, which is expected to last for three days, was adjourned until later when the first of seven forensic and police witnesses will be called.
PA