Perjury Report Follows Hamill Inquiry Sitting

A continuing official probe into the violent death of a Co Armagh man over a decade ago and the actions taken by police officers at the time has taken a dramatic turn.

The Chairman of the Robert Hamill Inquiry, Sir Edwin Jowitt, (pictured) has announced that he will be making a report to the PSNI Chief Constable requesting him to investigate the possibility that an "offence of perjury was committed" at yesterdays hearings. A witness, Rory Robinson, 37, who had initial charges against him over the murder later dropped, claimed to the Inquiry on Wednesday to have "lost his memory and could no longer recall the attack".

Mr Robinson was appearing before a sitting of the Inquiry at Belfast's Interpoint Centre, to give evidence about the events surrounding the death of a Catholic man, Robert Hamill, who was fatally injured in a gang attack in Portadown on April 27, 1997.

Sir Edwin's decision to call for a report was made after the completion of Mr Robinson's evidence.

The inquiry is examining allegations that four RUC police officers watched as the 25-year-old victim was attacked and failed to intervene.

(BMcC/JM)