A top policeman in the Omagh bomb trial yesterday admitted that people who had "no legitimate business" being in an ultra-sensitive crime scene had been given access to it.
Under cross-examination at Belfast Crown Court for the second day in the trial of alleged bomber Seán Gerard Hoey, Det Chief Insp Philip Greer Marshall revealed that the General Officer Commanding, two colonels, military intelligence officers, and other soldiers had all been allowed into the scene of a mortar bomb find in April 2001.
DCI Marshall also agreed with Orlando Pownall QC, defending, that "every time your evidence is tested against independent evidence it is found wanting in the matter of Altmore".
At the end of yesterday's evidence, trial judge Mr Justice Weir ordered transcripts of the evidence of both DCI Marshall and scenes of crime officer Fiona Cooper to allow the prosecution to study it.
By the start of next week, the prosecution has to tell the judge, having studied its evidence, whether it still wishes the court to rely on its evidence.
The judge also lifted reporting restrictions on the case after three days of revelations at the no-jury trial.
DCI Marshall yesterday admitted he asked Ms Cooper to amend her statement concerning evidence about the mortar bomb find in Altmore Forest, close to Dungannon.
Mr Hoey (37), an electrician from Holly Road, Jonesborough, south Armagh, denies 58 charges, including the worst terrorist atrocity to be committed in Northern Ireland - the Omagh bombing in which 29 people, including unborn twins lost their lives.
DCI Marshall was asked if he had not made a note "of improper things because you hoped to get away with it, but you were found out".
"Yes my lord," he replied.
It was also revealed that two statements, by Ms Cooper, both dated October 22nd, 2002, could not have been made or signed by her on that date as she was in Zambia at the time.
Ms Cooper admitted that DCI Marshall, a sergeant at the time, had asked her, possibly by phone, to alter her original statement to include further details concerning what she did, and what she was wearing forensically.
Ms Cooper denied that in relation to her evidence concerning three bomb plots, her evidence was "wholly unsatisfactory".
At one point, when DCI Marshall said he had not a "100 per cent memory" of phoning Ms Cooper about her statement, Mr Justice Weir asked would DCI Marshall give the court "whatever percentage" he did remember.
"I don't recall at all," said DCIMarshall.
He denied making up the statements for Ms Cooper, telling the court he would not do that as it would be "acting improperly".
He did accept that a member of the Omagh investigation team must have approached him to speak to Ms Cooper.
The trial continues.