20 June 2001

THREE WOMEN ARRESTED IN NELSON MURDER CASE

THREE women have been held for questioning regarding the murder of solicitor Rosemary Nelson in 1999.

Rosemary Nelson, a Catholic mother-of-three, died in a car booby trap explosion near her home in Lurgan on March 15 1999.

The three, who are originally from Armagh and are aged 24, 26 and 51, were arrested in Cambourne in Cornwall on Wednesday with the help of officers from Devon and Cornwall constabulary. They have been arrested on suspicion of committing serious terrorist offences in Northern Ireland.

The team investigating Mrs Nelson’s death is headed by Norfolk Deputy Chief Constable Colin Port. An investigation into the Lurgan solicitor’s death was initiated following allegations of security force collusion in her death as she represented the nationalist Garvaghy Road Resident’s Coalition, the Robert Hamill campaign and other high profile cases.

In the last two weeks, several people have been held for questioning about the murder. On Wednesday June 13 a 32-year-old man, believed to be from County Armagh, was arrested in Plymouth and then transported to Gough Detention Centre in Armagh for questioning. The police successfully applied to a judge to extend the period of detention of the 32-year-old man, who was then later released.

Two other men, aged 41 and 43, who were taken in for questioning on June 6 were also released.

The 41-year-old man was questioned about firearm offences, while the second 43-year-old man was released pending further inquiries by the Rosemary Nelson Inquiry team. (AMcE)