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24/05/2011
'No Collusion' In Nelson Bomb Murder
Early details have emerged after a public inquiry into alleged State agency collusion with loyalists who murdered 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)
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Nelson Probe Findings To Be Made Public
The results of a public inquiry 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.
19 April 2005
Inquiry into Nelson murder opens
An inquiry has opened into the controversial murder of Northern Ireland solicitor Rosemary Nelson. Mrs Nelson was killed after loyalists planted a booby-trap bomb underneath her car outside her Lurgan home in March 1999. Allegations have been made that police ignored death threats against Mrs Nelson.
Inquiry into Nelson murder opens
An inquiry has opened into the controversial murder of Northern Ireland solicitor Rosemary Nelson. Mrs Nelson was killed after loyalists planted a booby-trap bomb underneath her car outside her Lurgan home in March 1999. Allegations have been made that police ignored death threats against Mrs Nelson.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
