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Hearings Attendance Guide: Bradford Court Hearing Centre

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OBI - Hearings Attendance Guide - Bradford Court (PDF, 138.3 KB)

Introduction  (Back to top)

  1. It is expected that the majority of The Omagh Bombing Inquiry’s evidential and procedural hearings will take place in Bradford Court Hearing Centre in Belfast. The Inquiry’s website will detail the location of all the Inquiry’s hearings.  
  2. This document will provide general guidance for all those wishing to attend hearings held in the Bradford Court Hearing Centre.  

Support services   (Back to top)

  1. The Inquiry is working with WAVE Trauma Centre to provide support to all those affected by the proceedings. Counsellors will be available to provide private 1:1 support to any attendees.  
  2. WAVE are also available to provide support to anyone watching proceedings online and can be contacted on 028 8225 2522.  
  3. Further information is available here.  

How to attend the Inquiry’s hearings   (Back to top)

  1. The hearings are open to anyone aged 14 or over who wishes to attend. There are seats available in the public gallery in the hearing room.  
  2. The hearings will be held in Bradford Court Hearing Centre 1 Bradford Ct, Castlereagh, Antrim, Belfast, BT8 6RB. A link to the venue can be found here.  

Children and young people attending hearings  (Back to top)

  1. Anyone aged under 14 will not be permitted to attend the hearing room to observe. This is because the content of the hearings may be distressing and traumatic, which may be unsuitable for children or young people. The same rule applies to the additional family viewing room.  

Press attendance at the hearings  (Back to top)

  1. We anticipate that journalists will attend the hearings. Members of the media may sit in the public gallery in the hearing room or in the separate media annex to follow proceedings.  
  2. Members of the press are not allowed to use recording equipment or conduct interviews inside of the Bradford Court Hearing Centre. However, for those attending the hearings it is important to be aware that you may appear in the background of news footage of media coverage when entering or exiting the front entrance.  
  3. Media have been asked to respect the wishes of those attending who do not wish to appear on camera or be approached by journalists.  
  4. For members of the press who wish to attend the hearings please contact media@omagh.independent-inquiry.uk to accredit your attendance.  

Getting to the Bradford Court Hearing Centre  (Back to top)

  1. Free car parking is available at the Bradford Court Hearing Centre on a first come first served basis for those wishing to attend the hearings. Additional paid for parking is available at Forestside Shopping Centre.  
  2. The Bradford Court Hearing Centre is accessible by bus, alight at the Forestside Bus stop.  
  3. The hearing room is wheelchair accessible and all rooms used by the Inquiry have lift or ramp access. 
  4.  All those attending the Bradford Court Hearing Centre will enter through the ground floor. The hearing room is located on the first floor and is accessible by the stairs and lift.  

Bradford Court Hearing Room  (Back to top)

  1. The hearing room will have space for the Inquiry Chairman, Counsel to the Inquiry, Solicitor to the Inquiry, Core Participants and their Legal Representatives and members of the public and press to hear the proceedings.  
  2. Filming, photography and live reporting, including on social media, is not permitted in the hearing room. Those seated in the public gallery are also asked not to use their electronic devices.  
  3. Only water can be consumed in the hearing room.  
  4. Attendees can move in and out of the hearing room freely.  

Remote Hearing Room in Omagh  (Back to top)

  1. In addition to the Hearing Room at the Bradford Court Hearing Centre, a remote viewing space is available for anyone who wishes to watch the hearings from Omagh, subject to restrictions.  
  2. The proceedings of the hearings will be broadcast to a public viewing space in the Station Centre, 17 James St, Omagh BT78 1QX. This facility is open to anyone who wishes to attend and you do not need to register in advance. WAVE emotional support staff will be onsite during hearings to provide support to anyone who requires it.  
  3. The room will open 30 minutes before hearings start each morning and will close at the conclusion of each day of proceedings. Exact timings of hearings will be available on the Inquiry’s website.  
  4. The remote hearing room is subject to the same restrictions as the hearing room in Belfast.  

Core Participant Space   (Back to top)

  1. The Inquiry has a number of spaces available for Core Participants to use;
    1.   Family area – This area is available to all those impacted by the bombing and is intended as a break-out space.  
    2. Core Participant consultation rooms – consultation rooms are available to Core Participants and legal representatives.  
    3. Emotional support room – WAVE have a dedicated room within the Hearing Centre to provide emotional support to all attendees.  

Security process and prohibited items   (Back to top)

  1. Before entering the hearing centre, you will go through a brief security check including a wand check and a bag search. Please let the security team know if you have any concerns about this. 
  2. There are a number of prohibited items, including:  
    1. Weapons of any kind 
    2. Sharp items including blades, scissors and razors  
    3. All photographic, audio and video recording equipment, whether digital or analogue – with the exception of mobile phones which must be switched off.  

Other ways to follow the Inquiry  (Back to top)

  1. The hearing will be livestreamed (subject to a short delay) on the Inquiry’s YouTube channel.   
  2. Transcripts of the proceedings will be published on the Hearings section of Omagh Bombing Inquiry website at the end of each day.  
  3. The Inquiry will publish updates and information on its social media feed on X: OmaghBombingInq 

Queries about the hearings  (Back to top)

  1. If you have any questions about attending the hearings which have not been answered in this guide, please email operations@omagh.independent-inquiry.uk