19/09/2007

Police Ombudsman Report Reveals Findings In Nelson Case

A report by the Police Ombudsman revealed today that threats made against a Lurgan lawyer before her death were not properly investigated by police.

Rosemary Nelson was murdered by a car bomb planted by loyalists, outside her home in Lurgan, Co Armagh, in March 1999.

The report was prompted by a complaint from the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ).

Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan said that an abusive and inherently dangerous leaflet and a death threat made against Mrs Nelson were not handled properly by the then RUC.

The CAJ claimed it had sent documents including the leaflet, to the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) at the time.

The leaflet, which circulated in loyalist areas in Portadown during the summer of 1998, included Mrs Nelson's address and telephone number.

O'Loan's report found no evidence that the NIO forwarded the anonymous documents to the Chief Constable's Office, but rather faxed a general letter about the issues raised in them.

The Police Ombudsman said the RUC's assessment of Mrs Nelson's situation, and its subsequent actions, were inadequate.

Mrs O'Loan said police should have made more strenuous efforts to establish a level of risk and threat to Mrs Nelson, particularly given her profile at the time.

(LC/SP)

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