Other NI News In Brief

Hamill Inquiry Nears End

The family of a man who was kicked to death by a loyalist mob in Co Armagh will later tell an inquiry why they believe police could have saved him. Robert Hamill, a 25-year-old Catholic, was attacked in the centre of Portadown in April 1997. He died 11 days later and today, the family's barrister, Barra McGrory QC, will outline why they believe that four RUC officers facilitated his death by failing to intervene. The armed police officers were allegedly sitting in a Land Rover parked just yards from the scene of the attack. In his closing submission to the public inquiry into Robert Hamill's death at Belfast's Interpoint centre, Mr McGrory will also argue that one of those RUC officers obstructed the police investigation by telling a suspect to destroy evidence. The panel will also hear closing submissions from lawyers representing the police officers, the former RUC boss, Sir Ronnie Flanagan and civilian witnesses. The inquiry was set up to examine if the officers could or should have done more to prevent it.

Road Tragedy

The latest road tragedy to hit NI was a woman in her 20s who died following a crash on the Glenshane Road near Maghera in Co Londonderry. The victim, named as Iona McClory from Annaclone in Co Down, was the driver of a car which was involved in a collision with another car near a petrol station just before 7.10pm on Saturday. Also on Saturday, a teenage boy was injured in a hit-and-run incident in Portadown. It happened at the Meadowlane shopping centre at 5pm. A car, believed to have been a blue Vauxhall Zafira, hit the 13-year-old before being driven away.

Culloden Assault

There was shock at one of NI's top hotels at the weekend when a man who had been assaulted was discovered lying injured in the driveway of the five star Culloden hotel in Holywood at about 3am on Saturday. The victim was taken to hospital where he is said to be in a stable condition. Two men, aged in their 20s and 30s, have been arrested in connection with the incident, the police have said.

CIT Robber 'Had Gun'

What appeared to be a handgun has been used to steal several thousand pounds during a robbery in Belfast. The incident happened at about 9.20am on Saturday on the Stewartstown Road. The raider approached the guard and forced him to hand over a cash box. He then escaped in a green Ford Mondeo, which was driven by another person. The getaway car was later found in the Stewartsown Park/Corrib Avenue area. The PSNI are seeking information on the incident.

(BMcC/KMcA)