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.

Today’s inquiry, which opened at Craigavon’s Civic Centre, will be chaired by retired judge Sir Michael Morland alongside ex-chief constable of South Wales, Sir Anthony Burden, and Dame Valerie Strachan, former chair of the board of Customs and Excise.

The inquiry terms of reference will “inquire into the death of Rosemary Nelson with a view to determining whether any wrongful act or omission by or within the Royal Ulster Constabulary, Northern Ireland Office, Army or other state agency facilitated her death or obstructed the investigation of it, or whether any such act or omission was intentional or negligent; whether the investigation of her death was carried out with due diligence; and to make recommendation”.

Mrs Nelson came to prominence in the early 1990’s when she represented high profile cases such as the Catholic residents of the Garvaghy Road during the Drumcree dispute.

The death of the mother of three was claimed by loyalist splinter group, the Red Hand Defenders, however rumours persist that security force collusion enabled the killing to take place.

(MB/GB)