Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Nov 1999

Vol. 509 No. 6

Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Issues.

Charles Flanagan

Question:

64 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will convey at an early date to the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, and the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. Peter Mandelson, the feelings of deep unease and dissatisfaction at the investigation of the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Robert Hamill in Portadown, County Armagh; and if he will request that this matter be subjected to further scrutiny, examination and inquiry. [20885/99]

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

84 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the latest representations, if any, he has made to the British authorities regarding the Robert Hamill case; the response, if any, he has received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20879/99]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 84 together.

In my reply of 6 October last to a question on the status of the investigation into the murder of Robert Hamill, I outlined in detail the background to the case.

Robert Hamill died following a vicious attack in Portadown on 27 April 1997. RUC officers were in the vicinity at the time. Six people were charged in 1997 with his murder. Only one was convicted on 25 March 1999, but of causing an affray and not of murder. The Independent Commission for Police Complaints supervised the RUC investigation into the actions of the RUC officers on the night in question, following which a report was sent to the DPP. On 30 September the DPP decided not to proceed with the prosecution of any RUC officer.

The RUC file on the case remains open.

Since 1997 the case has been actively pursued with the British authorities both at official and at ministerial level. Following the DPP's decision of 30 September not to prosecute any RUC officer, an urgent report was requested through the Anglo-Irish Secretariat in Belfast. They received a detailed oral report on 19 October and a written report on 22 October, both of which emphasised that an internal RUC disciplinary investigation was ongoing, and that no option, including a public inquiry, had been ruled out.

On Tuesday 19 October, I conveyed, at a meeting with the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Mandelson, the Government's disappointment at the DPP's decision and the wide spread and deep concern that exists about this case, which is fully shared by the Government.

There is grave dissatisfaction throughout the Nationalist community, among human rights groups and among many colleagues in this House about the case, and this has led, understandably, to a mounting number of calls for a public inquiry. I conveyed to the new Secretary of State that, in the light of decent developments, I was giving the most serious consideration to supporting the case for a public inquiry, and would make a decision on the matter in the very near future.