Menu
24/05/2011
'No Collusion' In Nelson Bomb Murder
Details have emerged after a public inquiry in the North into alleged State agency collusion with loyalists who murdered the Lurgan solicitor Rosemary Nelson in 1999.
It found there was no such "wrongful act or omission by or within the Royal Ulster Constabulary, Northern Ireland Office or Army or any other state agency" as it had been commissioned to investigate, but it could not exclude the possibility that a 'rogue member' of the security forces had been involved.
The NI Secretary of State Owen Paterson has however told the House of Commons that there were failings in the measures taken to protect the lawyer and said that the government was "profoundly sorry" for these failures.
In counterpoint, the victim's widower, Paul, claimed last night that the inquiry had "vindicated his wife's belief that elements of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) were unable to identify her as a professional lawyer and distinguish her from the alleged crimes and causes of her clients".
He said that after Mrs Nelson represented several high profile clients including prominent republican Colin Duffy and the Garvaghy Road Residents Association, the loyalist paramilitary group, the Red Hand Defenders, killed her in a booby-trap bomb attack near her home.
He said that the RUC not only failed to protect her, but had effectively set her up for murder and had "legitimised her (Mrs Nelson) as a target" by publicly abusing and assaulting her in Portadown two years before her death.
The inquiry was conducted by a panel of three: retired judge Sir Michael Morland, former Chairman of the Board of Customs and Excise, Dame Valerie Strachan, and Sir Anthony Burden, former Chief Constable of South Wales police.
They were asked to determine "whether any wrongful act or omission by or within the Royal Ulster Constabulary, Northern Ireland Office or Army or any other state agency facilitated her death or obstructed the investigation of it".
In the event, the multi-million pound probe ruled that state agencies did not directly collude with loyalists who murdered Lurgan solicitor Rosemary Nelson in 1999.
(BMcC/GK)
It found there was no such "wrongful act or omission by or within the Royal Ulster Constabulary, Northern Ireland Office or Army or any other state agency" as it had been commissioned to investigate, but it could not exclude the possibility that a 'rogue member' of the security forces had been involved.
The NI Secretary of State Owen Paterson has however told the House of Commons that there were failings in the measures taken to protect the lawyer and said that the government was "profoundly sorry" for these failures.
In counterpoint, the victim's widower, Paul, claimed last night that the inquiry had "vindicated his wife's belief that elements of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) were unable to identify her as a professional lawyer and distinguish her from the alleged crimes and causes of her clients".
He said that after Mrs Nelson represented several high profile clients including prominent republican Colin Duffy and the Garvaghy Road Residents Association, the loyalist paramilitary group, the Red Hand Defenders, killed her in a booby-trap bomb attack near her home.
He said that the RUC not only failed to protect her, but had effectively set her up for murder and had "legitimised her (Mrs Nelson) as a target" by publicly abusing and assaulting her in Portadown two years before her death.
The inquiry was conducted by a panel of three: retired judge Sir Michael Morland, former Chairman of the Board of Customs and Excise, Dame Valerie Strachan, and Sir Anthony Burden, former Chief Constable of South Wales police.
They were asked to determine "whether any wrongful act or omission by or within the Royal Ulster Constabulary, Northern Ireland Office or Army or any other state agency facilitated her death or obstructed the investigation of it".
In the event, the multi-million pound probe ruled that state agencies did not directly collude with loyalists who murdered Lurgan solicitor Rosemary Nelson in 1999.
(BMcC/GK)
Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
09 May 2011
Nelson Probe Findings To Be Made Public
The results of a public inquiry ordered by the British and Irish governments into the murder of Lurgan solicitor Rosemary Nelson will be made public later this month. NI Secretary of State, Owen Paterson said the report would be shown to the Nelson family before it is published in full on 23 May.
Nelson Probe Findings To Be Made Public
The results of a public inquiry ordered by the British and Irish governments into the murder of Lurgan solicitor Rosemary Nelson will be made public later this month. NI Secretary of State, Owen Paterson said the report would be shown to the Nelson family before it is published in full on 23 May.
17 December 2010
Hamill And Nelson Murder Reports Delayed
Continuing delays in the publication of reports into two contentious Troubles' murders have been slammed.
Hamill And Nelson Murder Reports Delayed
Continuing delays in the publication of reports into two contentious Troubles' murders have been slammed.
09 June 2011
Murder Probe Focuses On North's Undercover War
A UDA murder case is to be re-examined after Northern Ireland's Attorney General ordered a fresh inquest into the loyalist murder of Gerard Slane in 1988 - amid allegations that one of the killers was a British Army agent.
Murder Probe Focuses On North's Undercover War
A UDA murder case is to be re-examined after Northern Ireland's Attorney General ordered a fresh inquest into the loyalist murder of Gerard Slane in 1988 - amid allegations that one of the killers was a British Army agent.
21 July 2008
Body Of Woman Found Hidden Behind Garden Wall
The body of an Eastern European woman has been found outside a house near Inverin. Gardaí have launched a murder inquiry into the find in Co Galway and a man has been arrested.
Body Of Woman Found Hidden Behind Garden Wall
The body of an Eastern European woman has been found outside a house near Inverin. Gardaí have launched a murder inquiry into the find in Co Galway and a man has been arrested.
18 June 2012
McAreavey Murder Trail Enters Fifth Week
The Michaela McAreavey murder trail, being held in Mauritius, is entering it’s fifth week. Today's proceedings are expected to involve discussion about CCTV images from the Legends Hotel reception area taken on the day that Mrs McAreavey was murdered.
McAreavey Murder Trail Enters Fifth Week
The Michaela McAreavey murder trail, being held in Mauritius, is entering it’s fifth week. Today's proceedings are expected to involve discussion about CCTV images from the Legends Hotel reception area taken on the day that Mrs McAreavey was murdered.
-
Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Frequent, often heavy showers of rain, sleet and snow will affect most parts this evening and overnight, but are likely to be most frequent across the northeast. Minimum temperature -1 °C.
