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11/04/2008
Confusion As Report Clears DNA Evidence
There's further confusion today over the Crown's case that followed the Omagh bomb outrage.
The controversial forensic technique criticised during the Omagh bomb trial has now been given Government approval for use as evidence in court.
Despite the fact that Mr Justice Weir acquitted Sean Hoey of 58 charges, including the Omagh bombing, in December last, and was strongly critical of the way items subjected to DNA testing had been collected and stored, Andrew Rennison, the Forensic Science Regulator, said the science was safe.
Against a background that the judge questioned the validity of the highly sensitive technique used and that four court cases in Northern Ireland have collapsed since then when charges were withdrawn because low copy number DNA was a key part of the prosecution evidence, the scientist said: "I'm satisfied the science is safe and fit for purpose, but there is work to be done around collection and interpretation."
However, Professor Allan Jamieson, who was a DNA expert who gave evidence for the defence during Sean Hoey's trial, said any results from a low DNA test must still be treated with caution.
"When you mix two people's DNA together, it is like mixing coins in a pocket together," he said.
"They end up on the table and you have to say which coins came from which person.
"You simply cannot do that and that is one of the problems of interpreting mixture, not only in this copy technique, but in the standard technique."
But, Professor Brian Caddy, who was Chairman of the review group, said: "I'm absolutely certain that there's no problem in putting this before the court.
"I'm sure defence scientists, when they look at the data, will be able to see they are very competent people who do it and the science is sound."
Meanwhile, the civil legal action against those accused of plotting the Omagh bomb attack, which killed 29 people and two unborn babies started this week.
Relatives of those who died in the dissident republican 'Real IRA' attack in 1998 have issued a case against five men they claim are responsible.
To date, nobody has been convicted but named on the action, starting in Belfast are alleged Real IRA figures Colm Murphy, Liam Campbell and Michael McKevitt as well as Seamus McKenna and Seamus Daly.
(BMcC)
The controversial forensic technique criticised during the Omagh bomb trial has now been given Government approval for use as evidence in court.
Despite the fact that Mr Justice Weir acquitted Sean Hoey of 58 charges, including the Omagh bombing, in December last, and was strongly critical of the way items subjected to DNA testing had been collected and stored, Andrew Rennison, the Forensic Science Regulator, said the science was safe.
Against a background that the judge questioned the validity of the highly sensitive technique used and that four court cases in Northern Ireland have collapsed since then when charges were withdrawn because low copy number DNA was a key part of the prosecution evidence, the scientist said: "I'm satisfied the science is safe and fit for purpose, but there is work to be done around collection and interpretation."
However, Professor Allan Jamieson, who was a DNA expert who gave evidence for the defence during Sean Hoey's trial, said any results from a low DNA test must still be treated with caution.
"When you mix two people's DNA together, it is like mixing coins in a pocket together," he said.
"They end up on the table and you have to say which coins came from which person.
"You simply cannot do that and that is one of the problems of interpreting mixture, not only in this copy technique, but in the standard technique."
But, Professor Brian Caddy, who was Chairman of the review group, said: "I'm absolutely certain that there's no problem in putting this before the court.
"I'm sure defence scientists, when they look at the data, will be able to see they are very competent people who do it and the science is sound."
Meanwhile, the civil legal action against those accused of plotting the Omagh bomb attack, which killed 29 people and two unborn babies started this week.
Relatives of those who died in the dissident republican 'Real IRA' attack in 1998 have issued a case against five men they claim are responsible.
To date, nobody has been convicted but named on the action, starting in Belfast are alleged Real IRA figures Colm Murphy, Liam Campbell and Michael McKevitt as well as Seamus McKenna and Seamus Daly.
(BMcC)
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