15/11/2007
Lawlor Inquest Halted
Contoversy continues to surround a brital loyalist murder in north Belfast with the inquest into the sectarian killing of Catholic teenager Gerard Lawlor dramatically halted yesterday.
The High Court ordered a temporary suspension following family claims of collusion.
Mr Lawlor (19) was making his way home from the Bellevue Arms to the Whitewell area of north Belfast when he was shot dead on July 21, 2002.
The UFF and Red Hand Defenders both claimed responsibility for the murder at the time.
During an extensive police investigation, two men were arrested but released due to lack of evidence. However, the Lawlor family has issued a complaint to the Police Ombudsman, believing collusion was involved.
They want the inquest to be held after the full report by the Police Ombudsman into the murder is published.
It is believed that the police ombudsman and the police had been provided with information that suggests the suspects were in fact police informers.
None of these concerns were being brought to the coroner's court nor were the concerns being addressed and the court inquest has now been halted.
A pathologist's report said that Mr Lawlor was shot four times. One bullet had passed his lungs and pierced his heart; the second had entered his chest and went into his spinal cord. He was also struck in both legs.
Coroner John Leckey adjourned the inquest, adding that he would give no verdict yesterday.
(BMcC)
The High Court ordered a temporary suspension following family claims of collusion.
Mr Lawlor (19) was making his way home from the Bellevue Arms to the Whitewell area of north Belfast when he was shot dead on July 21, 2002.
The UFF and Red Hand Defenders both claimed responsibility for the murder at the time.
During an extensive police investigation, two men were arrested but released due to lack of evidence. However, the Lawlor family has issued a complaint to the Police Ombudsman, believing collusion was involved.
They want the inquest to be held after the full report by the Police Ombudsman into the murder is published.
It is believed that the police ombudsman and the police had been provided with information that suggests the suspects were in fact police informers.
None of these concerns were being brought to the coroner's court nor were the concerns being addressed and the court inquest has now been halted.
A pathologist's report said that Mr Lawlor was shot four times. One bullet had passed his lungs and pierced his heart; the second had entered his chest and went into his spinal cord. He was also struck in both legs.
Coroner John Leckey adjourned the inquest, adding that he would give no verdict yesterday.
(BMcC)
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