Inquest Into Arlene Arkinson's Murder Begins

The SDLP said the actions of the police in the murdered teenager Arlene Arkinson case raises very serious issues that need urgent answers.

The inquest into the murder of Arlene Arkinson, 15, has begun at the Laganside Court complex in Belfast.

Arlene disappeared in August 1994 after a night out at a disco in Co Donegal.

She was last seen with convicted child killer Robert Howard, who died in prison last year.

SDLP Justice Spokesperson Alex Attwood MLA said: "This was always a deeply upsetting case that raised a broad range of questions. Today's developments have only made that situation more acute.

"There are enormous issues for the police and the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) Minister to address and answer. The rush to suppress disclosure as a result of the joint actions taken by the PSNI and NIO is deeply questionable. To do so in a case of this character is incredible and raises questions in bag loads."

Sinn Féin MLA Raymond McCartney said: "The use of Public Interest Immunity certificates in the case of the disappearance of 15-year-old Castlederg schoolgirl Arlene Arkinson is downright bizarre.

"It is completely unacceptable that the Secretary of State and NIO should be intervening to continue to deny a grieving family access to the truth of the death of their loved one.

"All of this raises even more serious questions about the Arlene Arkinson case which need answered.

"It emerged previously that the RUC Special Branch operated its own forensic service so the family need to know if any evidence was withheld from the initial investigation by Special Branch.

"We also had claims from a detective chief inspector from Kent who said he had been obstructed by the RUC while investigating the activities of Robert Howard.

"The Director of Public Prosecutions should now launch an inquiry to see if any evidence relating to the case was withheld."

(CD/LM)