Police delays on files hold up inquest of EX-IRA man

POLICE delays in disclosing sensitive evidence files linked to the murder of former IRA man Kevin Mcguigan have forced the postponement of his inquest.

Coroner Paddy Mcgurgan expressed frustration at the PSNI’S handling of the disclosure process but said he had little choice other than to vacate the scheduled hearing date in May.

Mr Mcgurgan said pressure on court timetables and his own diary meant the “harsh reality” was the probe was now unlikely to be heard this year.

Mr Mcguigan, a father-ofnine, was shot in the Short Strand in Belfast in August 2015. His murder prompted a political crisis at Stormont amid claims IRA members were involved in the killing.

The shooting followed the murder of EX-IRA commander Jock Davison in the Markets area of the city three months earlier.

Mr Davison and Mr Mcguigan had been involved in a personal dispute. Police believe Mr Mcguigan’s killers suspected him of involvement in Mr Davison’s death.

A preliminary inquest hearing yesterday was told a police report to the coroner had made clear that detectives had not considered Mr Mcguigan a suspect in Mr Davison’s murder, though the report added that “others” did.

It also heard that Mr Mcgurgan has asked for a copy of a letter containing Mr Mcguigan’s address that was found in the home of a suspect in his murder.

The full inquest had been listed to start on May 10.

Yesterday’s review hearing was told that the PSNI had now asked for a postponement.

Peter Coll QC, acting for the PSNI, said the scale of the task to process and security check the sensitive case files was larger than had been first envisaged.

He said officers were therefore unable to complete the work ahead of a scheduled pre-inquest hearing at the start of May when the coroner was to consider what material has to be redacted.

Mr Coll said the PSNI would work over the Easter period to establish a “likely, realistic and feasible” timescale for the completion of the disclosure process.

Laura Mcmahon, acting for the Mcguigan family, said she had been repeatedly expressing concern over the time disclosure was taking.

“Obviously the next of kin are extremely concerned by this information,” she said.

Ms Mcmahon said the family was now facing the uncertainty of an unknown timeline.

The coroner said he found the adjournment request “troubling”.

Agreeing to vacate the inquest dates, Mr Mcgurgan set a review hearing for May 6.