Omagh bombing; will the clearing of Sean Hoey retard the progress of Ulster law & politics?

Question

Did the police lie and tried to frame this man...or did the handful of 'technicalities' go against them? They may have spun a few yarns, with the evidence somewhat flawed, but his DNA was detected on pieces retrieved by the police. Will Mr. Hoey remain in Ulster now he has been declared innocent, or will various political groups flare up. The families of the dead in Omagh are disgusted - surely they will want to see justice done, far from the white house of Stormont where the Chuckle Brothers reside (Mr. McGuinness and Dr. Paisley)...and the various law-houses of Ulster)?

Sean Hoey, 38, had been accused of killing 29, and injuring over 200, months after a peace deal to end 30 years of conflict in 1998. It was carried out by the Real IRA, a breakaway faction of the IRA.

Actually, Lucy...it was a copy of the Belfast Telegraph I purchased while visiting my sister a few weeks ago that had the 'nickname' - methinks it was someone who was writing a letter to the publication.

Answer 1

I don't know if the man is guilty or not, but I do not believe the Northern Ireland Police Service tried to frame him.

All I do know is I would much rather have 'the Chuckle Brothers (as you chose to call them), power-sharing and have peace on our streets, than go back to the insanity that we had day and daily, for over 30 years.

I live in Omagh, where everyone would like to see justice done, but the overriding desire is to have peace. We have all seen enough trouble to make us hope we will never have to live through anything like the Omagh bomb ever again.

Answer 2

He's as guilty as sin.

But in a western democracy like the Irish Republic, the burden is on the government to prove their case in accordance with the law. They couldn't do it.

The irony is that over-zealous police work was probably a major contributor to his getting away with this mass murder. The Gardai officers were worried early that they didn't have a strong enough case to get a conviction, so they played a bit loose with some of the stories to make their case stronger.

As the case progressed, though, more evidence came to light that DID make the case strong enough to get a conviction. But when the jury heard about the fabrications, it damaged their faith in the Gardai, and a case that would have been a sure conviction fell apart.

Richard

Answer 3

Is probably not a good idea for him to stay in Ulster. But I do not think it will effect the peace process - no one wants to go back to the Troubles. As to the policing issue, that is more difficult for many reasons.