Police ignored evidence linked to murder of Catholic teenager: claim

Evidence directly linked to the murder of a Catholic teenager was classed by police as irrelevant to the inquest into his death, it has been claimed in the High Court.

Lawyers for the partner of Gerard Lawlor said an independent witness was told about a sectarian “hit” on the same night he was shot in north Belfast.

The 19-year-old was gunned down by loyalist paramilitaries as he walked home from the Bellevue Arms pub to the Whitewell area in July 2002.

Two men suspected of being on a scooter used in the shooting were later arrested but released without charge, the court heard. With the Police Ombudsman investigating an allegation of collusion surrounding his murder, an inquest was suspended after it opened 18 months ago.

Judicial review proceedings brought by Mr Lawlor’s former girlfriend, Siobhan Ramsbottom, are attempting to secure a fresh tribunal following publication of the Ombudsman’s report.

The legal challenge is also seeking to have Northern Ireland’s senior coroner John Leckey stand aside at any future hearing. Mr Leckey presided over the original inquest before it was halted by a court order in November 2007.

The case centres on a statement supplied from an anonymous

source identified only as ‘Witness X’ which the family want to form part of the coroner’s deliberations. Barry Macdonald QC, for Ms Ramsbottom, said this was an independent person who gave evidence about an incident less than two hours after the killing.

He told the court Witness X stated that a person encountered coming from a burning car claimed to have shot a Catholic outside the Bellevue Arms.

Although Mr Lawlor’s murder followed earlier shootings on the same night, Mr Macdonald argued that none took place in the same area.

“This is shortly after the relevant event, close to the relevant location and a suggestion by one of the persons running away that they had carried out a hit on a Catholic outside the Bellevue Arms on the Antrim Road. Prima facie it points to a conclusion that it’s relevant,” the barrister said.

“The coroner says no more than he has formed a judgment that it’s not relevant. The question arises on what basis has he formed that view?

“The answer is because a policeman told him so.” Mr Macdonald added that while police may have a good reason for their view, none had been given to the coroner or next of kin.

Counsel for the coroner rejected claims that he should excuse himself from proceedings because of allegations of apparent bias.

She said: “He did take a certain view. All coroners take views as to the lines to be explored.

“That does not mean, and he has expressly stated so, that if there is any other evidence that allows different lines to be pursued that he won’t take them.

“He hasn’t said that. He’s not irrational. The fact he reached a view on the evidence shouldn’t mean he’s to be biased as someone biased against a different idea.” After hearing both sides Mr Justice Weatherup reserved judgment in the case.

Belfast Telegraph