Denis Naughten
Question:92 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans, if any, he has to carry out an investigation into the death of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3976/00]
Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Issues.
Denis Naughten
Question:93 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions, if any, he has had with his British counterparts in relation to the possibility of carrying out an investigation into the death of a person (details supplied). [3966/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 93 together.
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 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 1999, 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. The report received 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, the Government's disappointment at the DPP's decision and the widespread and deep concern that exists about this case was personally conveyed to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Mandelson, by my predecessor, Deputy Andrews.
There is grave dissatisfaction throughout the nationalist community and among human rights groups and others about the case, and this has led, understandably, to a mounting number of calls for a public inquiry, for which there are strong grounds. I am now giving very serious consideration to calling for such an inquiry.