Madden & Finucane
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Madden & Finucane
present
the Madden & Finucane
and Pat Finucane
Aisling Awards
The Aisling Bursaries, launched in March 2000, are
an educational initiative between Belfast Media Group and West Belfast
Partnership. The Aisling Bursaries are designed to help students defray their
education and training costs.
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Peaceline shooting inquest on hold again
02 September 1999 --
AN INQUEST into the controversial peaceline shooting of Paul Thompson five years
ago was adjourned for the fourth time yesterday. Mr Thompson was shot dead by
the UFF on April 27 1994 in Springhill Park, west Belfast, as he sat in a taxi.
The driver was also injured in the ambush. A two-day public inquiry into the
killing in September 1994 heard how police and the NIO had been warned about two
men seen breaking a hole in the peace wall on the day of the shooting. The
Springhill residents’ group distributed leaflets warning about the hole and
advising people to be vigilant. Gunmen later used the hole to launch the attack.
Yesterday’s hearing at Belfast magistrates court was adjourned by Belfast
coroner John Leckey after a last-minute application by the Thompson family’s
legal team. Angela Ritchie, of Madden and Finucane, told the hearing they were
considering mounting a judicial review after RUC chief constable Ronnie Flanagan
refused to release papers relating to disciplinary proceedings taken against
police officers after the shooting. Ms Ritchie said a Home Office circular
published after the Stephen Laurence case in England could apply to Mr
Thompson’s case. She argued that the circular about deaths in police custody
could be applied to Mr Thompson’s murder because there were allegations that his
death happened after police failed to carry out their duty when warned about the
hole in the peaceline.. Ms Ritchie said: “Their (the Thompson family’s) wish to
have this inquest completed is balanced by their desire to find out the full
details and circumstances of what happened.” Stephen Ritchie, representing the
chief constable, told the hearing the disciplinary documents would be of no
relevance to the inquest but did not object to the adjournment. “I wonder what
relevance these documents could have to this case. If they were disclosed what
use could be made of them, given the rules laid down for the coroner’s court?”
Mr Leckey said it was not his position to mediate between the opposing views and
adjourned the inquest. It is unlikely the inquest will be reconvened before next
year. Speaking after the inquest Mr Thompson’s mother, Margaret, said she was
disappointed that the inquest hadn’t gone ahead but wanted to make sure all the
facts were made public. “This is my last chance,” she said.
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