31/07/2007
House Of Lords Rule On Hamill Inquiry
The House of Lords have ruled that a Belfast court must decide if ex-RUC officers are to receive anonymity when giving evidence at an inquiry into a Portadown man’s death.
Robert Hamill, a 25-year-old Catholic, died in hospital following an attack by a loyalist mob in Portadown in 1997.
Mr Hamill was beaten to death by the loyalist mob in the town centre and police allegedly watched and failed to intervene.
The police have denied eyewitness allegations that four RUC officers in a Land Rover saw the attack and did not intervene.
The Robert Hamill Inquiry had appealed to the House of Lords against a decision to grant a judicial review of its refusal to offer the police officers anonymity.
A total of 20 retired RUC officers claimed they would be in fear of their lives if identified and have fought a decision, by inquiry chairman Sir Edwin Jowitt`s team, that they appear unscreened.
An inquiry spokesman has said now that the approach taken by the Robert Hamill Inquiry has been approved by the House of Lords it looks forward to commencing the full oral hearings at the earliest opportunity.
No one has been convicted in connection with Mr Hamill’s death.
(SB/SP)
Robert Hamill, a 25-year-old Catholic, died in hospital following an attack by a loyalist mob in Portadown in 1997.
Mr Hamill was beaten to death by the loyalist mob in the town centre and police allegedly watched and failed to intervene.
The police have denied eyewitness allegations that four RUC officers in a Land Rover saw the attack and did not intervene.
The Robert Hamill Inquiry had appealed to the House of Lords against a decision to grant a judicial review of its refusal to offer the police officers anonymity.
A total of 20 retired RUC officers claimed they would be in fear of their lives if identified and have fought a decision, by inquiry chairman Sir Edwin Jowitt`s team, that they appear unscreened.
An inquiry spokesman has said now that the approach taken by the Robert Hamill Inquiry has been approved by the House of Lords it looks forward to commencing the full oral hearings at the earliest opportunity.
No one has been convicted in connection with Mr Hamill’s death.
(SB/SP)
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