Man in court over Omagh bombing
The man charged with conspiracy to cause an explosion in connection with the Omagh bombing has appeared in Craigavon Magistrates Court in County Armagh, southwest of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
New agencies have named the man as Sean Gerard Hoey, a 34-year old an unemployed electrician from Jonesborough, County Armagh.
He was charged with possession of an explosive substance – a timer power unit – a type police say was used in the Omagh atrocity.
A 500lb car bomb killed 29 people and injured more than 200 bystanders in the County Tyrone town centre on August 15, 1998.
The man also faced a further 14 charges including membership of the Real IRA and conspiring to cause an explosion in Lisburn, County Antrim, three months before the attack.
Mt Hoey was remanded in custody and will reappear at the same court by video link on October 2.
But police refused to clarify whether Mr Hoey was arrested in connection with Omagh bombing.
He has been arrested three times previously but released each time without charge.
On Tuesday, more than 200 police officers and soldiers took part in the arrest of an alleged Real IRA member and his wife, in the village of Jonesborough, situated close in the republican stronghold of South Armagh, Northern Ireland.
Colm Murphy was convicted last year on conspiracy charges related to the incident.
No one has yet been charged with murder for the bombing.
The Omagh bombing has been described as the worst single atrocity during The Troubles.
