[ad_1]
The process of reviewing security files related to the murder of former IRA official Kevin McGuigan prior to an inquest was hit by a delay, coroners said.
Oroner Patrick McGargan said a pre-hearing hearing to determine whether confidential police and security services materials related to the case needed to be redacted, as more time was needed to complete the preparatory work. was told at the beginning of January that it could not proceed as planned. .
After receiving an update from a barrister representing the PSNI, McGurgan expressed hope that the postponement would not affect the schedule for a full inquest, which is scheduled to begin next March.
McGuigan, a father of nine, was shot in Short Strand, Belfast in August 2015.
His murder sparked a political crisis in Stormont amid allegations that IRA members were involved in the killing.
Prior to a two-week inquest scheduled for March 20 next year, materials related to the shooting must be reviewed by security and distributed to relevant legal parties.
A separate hearing will be required to consider an application made by police or security services to redact evidence under public interest immunity (PII).
McGargan said at a preliminary hearing in Belfast on Monday that he did not want to give up on the March hearing date.
“I want to keep the March hearing date,” he said.
Lawyers for Laura McMahon, a close relative of McGuigan, said the family hopes the hearing will go ahead as planned.
They are keen to resolve the issue and if it is possible to keep the current timeframe, that would be greatly appreciated.Laura McMahon
“I would like to ask you to keep the date of the hearing for the benefit of the next of kin,” she told the coroner.
“They are keen to resolve the issue and if it is possible to keep the current timeframe, that would be greatly appreciated.”
McGurgan raised the possibility that an inquest could begin in March before the PII process was completed, and early hearings dealt with material not covered by sensitive evidence.
Attorneys for coroner Philip Henry said they needed to see if the evidence could be “segmented” in such a way.
I know I have a 2 week appointment, but if I can at least take advantage of that timeCoroner Philip Henry
The coroner said it would be good to “start and run” an inquest at least in March.
“I know I have two weeks to go, and I hope I can at least take advantage of that time,” he said.
McGuigan’s shooting follows the killing of former IRA commander Jock Davison in the city’s Market District three months ago.
Mr. Davison and Mr. McGuigan were embroiled in a personal dispute.
Police believe McGuigan’s killer suspected his involvement in Davison’s death.
McGuigan’s death prompted then-PSNI Chief Constable Sir George Hamilton to say that the Provisional IRA still existed and that some of its members were involved in the murder.
He said there was no evidence that the killings were sanctioned by the organization.
The killings led to a period of instability in Stormont, with DUP ministers continuing a series of resignations in protest over alleged IRA involvement in the shootings.
The next preliminary hearing was scheduled for January 27th.
[ad_2]
Source link