Northern Ireland

Pearse Jordan Supreme Court decision 'is likely to have far reaching implications' for other families

IRA man Pearse Jordan was shot dead by the RUC in 1992
IRA man Pearse Jordan was shot dead by the RUC in 1992 IRA man Pearse Jordan was shot dead by the RUC in 1992

A lawyer acting for the family of an IRA man shot dead by the RUC has said a decision by the Supreme Court in London “is likely to have far reaching implications” for other families.

Fearghál Shiels was speaking after the court allowed an appeal by Teresa Jordan, whose son Pearse was shot dead by the RUC in west Belfast in November 1992.

The solicitor said the campaigning mother had challenged a decision of the Court of Appeal that a bereaved next of kin can only bring a claim for damages arising from the state’s failure to hold an inquest promptly after it has been concluded.

“The Supreme Court has vindicated Pearse Jordan’s mother in bringing this appeal," he said.

"It is a decision which is likely to have far reaching implications for dozens of next of kin in circumstances where the inquests into the deaths of their loved ones have effectively ground to a halt as a result of the woeful and deliberate failure to properly resource the coronial system.

“This judgment now gives those families an opportunity to access the courts and enforce their rights enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights in the domestic courts without recourse to Strasbourg.”

In yesterday’s ruling the Supreme Court said: “On its face, the guidance given by the court of appeal in the present case involved no assessment of proportionality or consideration of individual circumstances.”

West Belfast MP Paul Maskey said the "ruling by the Supreme Court brings the Jordan family one step closer to justice for Pearse’s death".

“The family have been engaged in a long struggle for truth and justice for almost 30 years and have been frustrated by continuous obstacles put in place by the RUC and PSNI," he said.