‘Community evidence’ for inquest into murder of IRA boss

Findings to be made available to coroner

THE findings of “community” investigations into the murder of a former IRA chief could be factored into his inquest, a coroner has been told.

Gerard “Jock” Davison, 47, was shot dead in the Markets area of Belfast as he walked to work in May 2015.

He had been involved in a personal dispute with other republicans.

A preliminary inquest hearing in Belfast yesterday was told Mr Davison’s family intend to submit documentary evidence to the coroner.

Their barrister Sean Devine told coroner Paddy Mcgurgan that much of that material is “open source”.

But he added: “There are some investigations which are going on within the community, if I can put it that way, and my instructing solicitors are reaching out into areas where they would hope some information may be forthcoming. Sometimes those type of inquiries can bear fruit, so we’ll continue to do that.”

Mr Devine said he intends to present the material to court in a “manageable” format once it is all collated”.

Earlier, Peter Coll QC, representing the PSNI, told the court police have identified around 6,000 documents that could be potentially relevant to the case.

He said: “That will take some time to prepare the materials to be provided through the Coroners Service.”

Mr Mcgurgan said he is satisfied work on the disclosure process is progressing.

He added: “The family can be reassured that matters are moving forward.”

Three months after Mr Davison was shot dead, former IRA man Kevin Mcguigan was murdered in a gun attack in nearby Short Strand in Belfast.

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

However, detectives have said there is no evidence to support that.

The murder of Mr Mcguigan sparked a major political crisis at Stormont after police said some members of the IRA were involved

Preliminary inquest proceedings for Mr Mcguigan are also continuing.

Police delays in disclosing sensitive evidence recently forced the postponement of the full inquest hearing in that case, which had initially been due to commence in May.

Mr Mcgurgan, who is presiding over both inquests, told the court yesterday that the intention is to hear the Mcguigan inquest before the Davison one.

He said he does not think the delay in the Mcguigan inquest will have a knock-on effect on the timing of the Davison proceedings, as there is so much preparatory work still to be done before the latter is ready to be heard.

The next preliminary hearing in the Davison case is

scheduled for June 8.

There are [inquiries] going on in the community SEAN DEVINE BELFAST CORONER’S COURT

SHOT DEAD Gerard ‘Jock’ Davison was killed in 2015 PROBE Forensic officer at scene of Mr Davison’s killing in East Belfast

KILLED Kevin Mcguigan was also shot dead in 2015