16/11/2004

Murphy announces panel to look at controversial killings

Secretary of State Paul Murphy today announced the terms of reference and panel members for the inquiries into Northern Ireland’s most controversial deaths.

In a written statement to Parliament, Paul Murphy said that he was pleased to confirm both the identities of the inquiry panels and the inquiries’ terms of reference into the deaths of Robert Hamill, Billy Wright and Rosemary Nelson.

The statement added: “In each case, the panels will be chaired by a judge and will include both a member with specialist expertise and a lay member. The terms of reference have been deliberately drawn to allow the inquiries to consider both the allegations of collusion that have been made in these cases and also the issue of possible negligence.”
  • The Robert Hamill inquiry will be chaired by Sir Edwin Jowitt, a retired member of the High Court of England & Wales. He will be joined on the inquiry panel by Sir John Evans (former Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall) and Reverend Baroness (Kathleen) Richardson of Calow (former Moderator of the Free Churches’ Council of England & Wales).
  • The Billy Wright inquiry will be chaired by the Right Honourable Lord (Ranald) MacLean of the Court of Session in Scotland. He will be supported in this role by Professor Andrew Coyle (Director of the International Centre for Prisons Studies at King’s College, London) and the Right Reverend John Oliver (retired diocesan Bishop of Hereford).
  • The Rosemary Nelson inquiry will be chaired by Sir Michael Morland, a retired member of the High Court of England & Wales. The other panel members will be Sir Anthony Burden (former Chief Constable of South Wales Police) and Dame Valerie Strachan (Vice Chair of the Big Lottery Fund and former Chairman of the Board of Customs and Excise).


Mr Murphy said the inquiries would start work “as soon as possible”.

Meanwhile, the terms of reference of the inquiry into murdered Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane will be outlined in special legislation set to be put before parliament.

It follows the publication last October of six reports by Judge Cory to the London and Dublin administrations about a total of eight killings on both sides of the border.

Appointed by the British and Irish governments in 2001, Judge Cory's report found evidence for "collusive behaviour" by security force personnel and recommended public inquiries should be held.

(MB)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

01 February 2008
Deadly Shed Fire 'Not Suspicious'
A man in his 60s has died in a house fire in Co Fermanagh. Enquiries are ongoing into the cause of the fire but it is understood that it is not being treated as suspicious. The victim's two pet dogs have also perished in the blaze that started in a shed close to the house on the Snowhill Road in Lisballaw.
17 January 2007
Apology to family of murdered brothers
The family of three Catholic brothers who were murdered over 30-years-ago, have received an apology for the way they were treated by the security forces.
16 August 2013
Haass Talks Preparation Begins
The terms of reference have been laid out for a new panel to be chaired by US peace envoy Dr Richard Haass, that will look at how to deal with issues surrounding flags and emblems in Northern Ireland. The 'Together: Building a United Community' Strategy was published on 23 May 2013.
08 June 2018
Terms Of Reference Published For Neurology Inquiry
The Department of Health has published the terms of reference for the independent inquiry into the recall of over 2,500 neurology patients. In May, the Belfast Health Trust recalled thousands of patients following an examination of the work of neurology consultant Dr Michael Watt.
29 August 2024
Young People Must Make 'Their Voices Heard' – O'Dowd
Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd has called on Northern Ireland's young people to "make their voices heard" on decisions that impact them, now and in the future.