14 June 2001

THREE MEN ARRESTED IN NELSON MURDER CASE

THREE men are now being held for questioning about the murder of solicitor Rosemary Nelson in 1999.

Police have arrested another two men, aged 33 and 28, who were arrested in Portadown, County Armagh on Thursday June 14. The team investigating the murder said they were being questioned about serious terrorist offences.

On Wednesday 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 have successfully applied to a judge to extend the period of detention of the 32-year-old man.

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

Norfolk Deputy Chief Constable Colin Port is heading up the inquiry team. 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 and other high profile cases.

Two other men, aged 41 and 43, questioned last week were subsequently released.

A 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)