Two police officers accused of lying by the judge in the Omagh bomb trial will not face criminal charges, it was revealed tonight.
The Public Prosecution Service is expected to confirm that Detective Inspector Philip Marshall and Constable Fiona Cooper will not face legal action after being cleared by an investigation by the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman Al Hutchinson.
During the marathon trial which ended in December 2007 with the acquittal of Sean Hoey from south Armagh, who denied murdering the 29 people in the August 1998 atrocity, Mr Justice Weir accused the two officers of being involved in "deliberate and calculated deception" when they gave evidence at the trial in Belfast.
He said it "made it impossible for me to accept any evidence given by either" witness.
The matter was referred to Mr Hutchinson's office for investigation, and sources tonight confirmed his inquiry found no evidence the officers lied. A full report of his probe is expected to be released within the next few days.
The Public Prosecution Service is also expected to make an announcement that there will be no criminal charges.
Meanwhile, the High Court civil action by some of the relatives against the men they claim were responsible for the Real IRA bombing is expected to finish by the summer. The families of the dead have lodged a multi-million pound compensation claim.
They are also demanding the British and Irish Government agree to a full cross border judicial investigation into the bombing.
PA