Hoey triak - evidence contaminated! -- Stormont Watch

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Date Posted: Sun, Apr 15 2007, 14:09:06 PDT
Author: Solidarity.
Subject: Hoey triak - evidence contaminated!

The refusal of police to explain a secretive police int to forensic evidence due to be used in the trial of Sean Hoey could result in legal action against Chief Constable Hugh Orde.

Secret access to forensic evidence in dozens of murder trials including the trial of Omagh bomb suspect Sean Hoey was given to the Weapons and Explosives Research Centre (WERC).

Hoey's solicitor Kevin Winters has confirmed that he is preparing a legal challenge against the PSNI over it' refusal to explain why the highly secretive police unit was given access.

During Hoey's trial last year scientist Ruth Griffin admitted that trial evidence had been contaminated after WERC officers were allowed to remove it from the headquarters of forensic science service at Carrickfergus for 'training' purposes.

Solicitor Kevin Winters said he will initiate legal proceedings against the PSNI after it refused to disclose even basic information of WERC unit's activities, stating it was 'not in the public interest.'

Mr Winters said, "It is totally unacceptable that these faceless individuals are to go into forensic science headquarters and handle evidence without any accountability."

When questioned about the WERC's activities, a PSNI spokesman wrote that, "We can neither confirm nor deny whether we hold any additional information to your request."

He continued to say that, "To divulge the specific work of WERC may pose a risk of exposure regarding the function within the unit."
"The current and future law enforcement role of the PSNI may be compromised if the functions of WERC were identified, this may also highlight the methodology employed if released."

Mr Winters said that there was no issue in accessing evidence from past trials, but the fact that they are accessing evidence of future trials is the concern.
"It has already been proved that they contaminated evidence in at least one case."

He claimed that, "It drives a coach and horses through a defendant's entitlement to a fair trial."

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