MI5 files to be examined for inquest into dissident

A CORONER examining the murder of a dissident republican is to review top secret files related to an official probe into alleged MI5 involvement in the case.

Real IRA man Kieran Doherty (31) was shot dead in February 2010 and his body dumped near Londonderry.

The Real IRA claimed responsibility for the killing of one of its own members, but nobody has ever been charged with the murder of the father-of-one.

In the weeks before his death Mr Doherty claimed MI5 attempted to recruit him as an agent, and his family raised concerns that the UK Security Services could have played a role in his death.

In the wake of the murder, the UK’s then independent reviewer of the Security Services, Lord Carlile, examined the circumstances of the shooting. While he concluded there was no inappropriate action by MI5, the full contents of his report were classified on national security grounds.

Coroner Brian Sherrard, who is presiding over a forthcoming inquest into the death, is now set to review the top secret contents to assess their relevance to his probe.

The coroner yesterday praised progress in security vetting and disclosing police files, after the court heard 800 pages of fresh material had been passed to the court.

The next preliminary hearing is scheduled for December 13.