Omagh bomb trial nears close

The judge in the trial of a man charged with murdering 29 people in the Omagh bombing is expected to consider his verdict today…

The judge in the trial of a man charged with murdering 29 people in the Omagh bombing is expected to consider his verdict today after hearing final submissions from the prosecution and defence.

Seán Hoey (37), an electrician from Molly Road, Jonesborough, Co Armagh, denies a total of 56 terrorist charges including 29 murders in the August 1998 bomb attack.

Yesterday, the non-jury trial was told the bombing was carried out jointly by the "Real IRA" and the Continuity IRA rather than just the "Real IRA".

Written evidence from David Rupert, an FBI agent who infiltrated dissident republican groups, also said that Mr Hoey had never been named by him to the FBI or the British security service as having been involved or associated in any way with the illegal republican groups.

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After hearing final submissions today Mr Justice Weir is expected to consider the evidence for between six and eight weeks before returning a verdict.