A solicitor representing a man likely to face murder charges arising from the 1998 Omagh bombing this evening criticised the Director of Public Prosecutions in Northern Ireland.
Peter Corrigan said it was not acceptable he had not been told that his client, 35-year-old Sean Gerard Hoey, was expected to face charges on the direction of the DPP.
Mr Corrigan said he was disturbed at the way the decision had been taken. He said it was surprising that the DPP had not obtained the Attorney General's consent for multitude murder offences.
The solicitor added that he had spoken to a member of the DPP yesterday and the likelyhood of charges being brought was never mentioned and said it was unsatisfactory that a defence solicitor and defendant hear of impending charges via the media.
Mr Corrigan said he would be speaking to the Police Ombudsman because he believed his client was being used as a scapegoat for a poor police investigation into the atrocity.
It was reported yesterday by the Press Association that the DPP was planning to bring charges against Hoey.