Northern Ireland

Judge says inquest review designed to break log jam

Rosemary Campbell, whose husband Joseph was killed outside the police station were he worked in Cushendall in February 1977. Picture by Hugh Russell
Rosemary Campbell, whose husband Joseph was killed outside the police station were he worked in Cushendall in February 1977. Picture by Hugh Russell Rosemary Campbell, whose husband Joseph was killed outside the police station were he worked in Cushendall in February 1977. Picture by Hugh Russell

A senior judge has said dealing with the past is necessary for people in the north to move on from the Troubles.

Lord Justice Weir was speaking on the final day of a two-week review of 56 historical inquests.

The review was ordered by Lord Chief Justice Declan Morgan last year after concerns were raised about the length of time it is taking for some hearings to take place.

Relatives of people killed and their solicitors have complained that the PSNI and British Military of Defence have delayed the disclosure of documents.

Lord Justice Weir said the review was designed to overcome obstacles.

"The purpose of this was to try and break the logjam and move these cases along, which is in everyone's interests, not just the next of kin but the people of Northern Ireland who want to see this chapter of life dealt with properly and put to rest,” he said.

He will now report his findings to the Lord Chief Justice in the coming weeks.

Earlier, the senior judge had told the widow of a Catholic RUC man shot dead by loyalists he hopes progress can be made in the case.

It was first hearing into the murder of Sergeant Joseph Campbell in Cushendall in February 1977 since a fresh inquest was ordered.

The 49-year-old is believed to have been shot dead as he locked the gates of the police station by notorious UVF killer Robin Jackson.

Earlier this week his 82-year-old wife Rosemary told the Irish News she believes police have concealed the truth.

Three years after the killing retired RUC Special Branch officer Charles McCormick was acquitted of murder, but convicted of charges including possession of explosives and firearms and armed robbery.

However, these were all quashed on appeal.

Attorney General John Larkin ordered the new inquest after being presented with fresh evidence by the family’s solicitor Fearghál Shiels which included a Police Ombudsman’s report published in 2014.

That report claimed that former RUC chief constable Kenneth Newman "quite probably" knew about a threat to Mr Campbell's life but failed to act.

It also claimed that then head of Special Branch Mick Slevin, who has since died, was also "aware of concerns, which had been documented, about the threat to his life and failed to act upon them".

During yesterday’s hearing a representative of the Police Ombudsman’s Office confirmed that the gun used to kill Sgt Campbell was in their possession and “it may have been recovered from a police station”.

Addressing Mrs Campbell, Lord Justice Weir said: "You have had a long wait and I hope we can do something to move this on because it has gone on a long time.”

Speaking after the hearing, Sgt Campbell’s son Tommy said the family is hopeful of progress.

“I think the judge has a fair realisation of what this means to all the families and we are hopeful this will be pushed along,” he said.

“I am glad to see there is pressure being put on MI5 and the MoD to release documents they might have.

“All in all it has been positive”.