Cecilia Keaveney
Ceist:178 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in relation to a number of murder investigations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19898/01]
Written Answers. - Murder Investigations.
Rosemary Nelson was brutally murdered in a car bomb attack in Lurgan on 15 March 1999. This murder was an attack on a dedicated and committed defence lawyer and human rights defender.
Colin Port, Deputy Chief Constable of Norfolk, was appointed to lead the investigation into her murder, which is still ongoing. In the past three weeks, the Port team has arrested seven people in the course of its investigation of Rosemary Nelson's murder. Although a number of those arrested have been charged with other offences, to date none has been charged in connection with Rosemary Nelson's murder. Colin Port has expressed confidence that his investigation will succeed in bringing the perpetrators of Rosemary Nelson's murder to justice and we wish him and his investigation team well.
Recognising that the case raises wider issues of concern to her family, to the public and to the international community, the Taoiseach has called for the establishment of a public inquiry into the murder. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Param Cumaraswamy, has also called for a judicial commission of inquiry into the murder of Rosemary Nelson, a call that the Government has welcomed.
Officials from my Department remain in close contact with the British authorities in relation to the investigation. They also maintain close contact with human rights organisations, both at home and abroad, with members of Rosemary's family and with other interested parties on all of the issues relating to her death.
Robert Hamill died on 8 May 1997, following an attack in Portadown. Eyewitnesses have claimed that RUC officers in the vicinity at the time failed to intervene. In calling for a public inquiry into the death of Robert Hamill, on 8 June 2000, the Taoiseach stated that the case was of urgent public interest and that the issues of concern must be resolved in a manner which would command the confidence of the community.
On 24 November 2000, the Police Ombudsman took over direct and active supervision of the police disciplinary investigation. She said that she would "dedicate all the necessary resources to ensure that all avenues are investigated, exposed and exploited" in this "very sensitive" case. On 10 April last, the Ombudsman announced that seven people had been arrested in connection with her investigation. They were released without charge on police bail shortly afterwards. The family issued a statement, welcoming the arrests but repeating their call for a public inquiry. The Government continues to monitor developments in Mr. Hamill's case closely and to pursue its concerns actively with the British authorities.
The murder of Sean Brown, a highly respected member of his community, was a heinous crime. Like the Deputy and the victim's family, I want to see the perpetrators brought to justice. I understand that while seven persons were arrested following the murder, no one was charged in relation to it. The murder inquiry is still ongoing but I understand that there have been no recent developments.
Officials of my Department have been in contact with Sean Brown's family, who have concerns about the conduct of the police investigation as well as the conduct of the inquest. On 20 March, the family lodged an official complaint with the Police Ombudsman. The ECtHR ruling of 4 May which dealt with, inter alia, the conduct of inquests in Northern Ireland, will also impact on the conduct of the inquest into Mr. Brown's death. On 7 June, the Coroner for Greater Belfast, Mr. John Leckey, held a hearing both on the general issue of the conduct of inquests following the ECtHR ruling and specifically on the inquest into Mr. Brown's death and a number of others. The hearing was adjourned until 4 September, pending the British Government's decision on appealing the ECtHR ruling. We continue to monitor this and other aspects of this case and to raise our concerns with the British authorities through the mechanism of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat.