News

Inquest hears claims that man linked to John Brady arrest was informer

Strabane man John Brady was given a republican funeral after he died in 2009
Strabane man John Brady was given a republican funeral after he died in 2009 Strabane man John Brady was given a republican funeral after he died in 2009

A lawyer acting for the family of a former IRA prisoner who took his own life in a police station branded a potential witness a “police informer” in the coroner's court yesterday.

Barrister Conor O’Kane also voiced concerns about a potential “police cover up” during the preliminary inquest hearing into the death of John Brady.

Mr Brady (40) took his own life while being held at Strand Road PSNI station in Derry in 2009.

It has been claimed he was approached by members of the PSNI’s C3 unit, formerly known as Special Branch, three times before his death.

There has also been speculation that Mr Brady, who served a prison sentence for IRA offences and was later returned to jail after having his licence revoked, may have been put under pressure to become an informer before he hanged himself in the station cell.

Mr O’Kane revealed that the Strabane man had been charged with assault after a row with a man outside a primary school.

However, the barrister claimed the man - who he said was believed to be a “police informer” and a “state agent" - has now vanished.

"He, his wife and his children have left the face of the earth and have not been heard from in seven years,” he said.

"Where have they gone?

"It is a reasonable assumption that to leave your family, to take children out of school, to disappear, is very difficult without very powerful and wealthy people to help you."

The informer claims were later dismissed as "wildly speculative" by Philip McAtteer, counsel for the PSNI.

However, Mr O'Kane claimed suspicions of a police cover-up hang over the case.

"The mechanics of the death have been explored thoroughly," the lawyer said.

"What has never been explored by anybody is why was he arrested in the first place?

"Mr Brady hanged himself because he could not face a number of months or years in prison.

"The question is, what caused him to take that view?"

Describing Mr Brady as a “a man of some fortitude” with no mental health problems, the barrister said on the day he died C3 officers were in Strand Road station.

"How did the two C3 officers know?” he said

"Mr Brady was arrested for actual bodily harm, a relatively minor offence, but somehow somebody told C3 officers that he was at Strand Road police station."

The lawyer also demanded to know what legal representatives were present during what he initially described as a “secret” and, later, “private” meeting between former case coroner Brian Sherrard and the PSNI month.

At an earlier hearing it was revealed that Mr Sherrard, who had been in temporary charge of the case, was shown “sensitive” files.

Mr Sherrard explained that he personally reviewed the documents as his legal counsel and solicitor do not have "sufficient clearance”.

Mr O’Kane said: "It is important for the family that these things are done as much as possible in open."

There were several robust exchanges between the Brady family barrister and Coroner Joe McCrisken during the hearing.

At one point Mr McCrisken threatened to hand over a transcript of the barrister's comments to a higher legal authority.

"This is my court and you must respect it," he said.

“I am an independent judicial officer and I will not have disrespect.”

The coroner said the Brady family could expect a “full, fair and fearless inquest”.

A further review hearing was provisionally scheduled for June 21.