Murdered detective’s mum dies without finding justice
THE campaigning mother of a murdered Welsh private investigator has died without ever seeing those responsible for her son’s notorious 1987 death brought to justice.
Isobel Hulsmann, whose son was detective Daniel Morgan, pictured left, died aged 89 after a short illness, it was confirmed last night.
Her son’s death sparked the most investigated unsolved murder in British history after he was found with an axe in his head in a London pub car park 30 years ago. Despite five criminal investigations focusing on the murder, no-one has been successfully prosecuted.
The Metropolitan Police has since admitted the first investigation attempting to bring his killers to justice was blighted by police corruption.
Daniel, from Llanfrechfa, near Cwmbran, was alleged to have been investigating drug-related police corruption before his death – and his brother Alastair is convinced he was on the verge of exposing the issue.
THE mother of the Welsh victim in the most investigated unsolved murder in British history has died without seeing those responsible for her son’s death brought to justice.
Isobel Hulsmann, the mother of private detective Daniel Morgan, passed away aged 89, after battling cancer for the past six months.
Daniel, from Llanfrechfa, Torfaen, was found with an axe in his head in a London pub car park in 1987.
Despite five criminal investigations focusing on the murder, nobody has been successfully prosecuted.
The Metropolitan Police has since admitted the first investigation attempting to bring his killers to justice was blighted by police corruption.
Daniel was alleged to have been investigating drug-related police corruption in south London before his death – and his brother is convinced he was about to blow the lid.
A trial of four men charged with Daniel’s murder in 2008 subsequently collapsed in 2011, following alleged failures by the police and prosecutors.
Then Home Secretary Theresa May established the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel (DMIP) in 2013 to carry out a full and effective review of corruption as it affected the handling of the case and of the treatment of Daniel Morgan’s family by the police and other parts of the criminal justice system.
The panel, chaired by Baroness Nuala O’Loan, is due to finally present its findings next year.
Daniel’s brother Alastair Morgan feels great sadness that his mother will not be able to hear the findings, and frustration at the Metropolitan Police, who he accuses of being “unhelpful and obstructive”.
“My mother knew what was going on,” he said. “But she was very ill for the last few months of her life. The chairwoman of the panel actually came down to see her and I know they’ve being doing their best. There is a huge amount of paperwork and at various stages the Met have been slow in releasing it.
“The report from the panel is now not expected until next autumn. Throughout, the Metropolitan police have been obstructive. The panel wanted to get the report out before my mother’s death, everyone wanted this, but the police have been unhelpful throughout the whole process.”
Alastair, 68, said the case has caused the whole family untold pain.
“My mother was diagnosed with cancer about six months ago. She had a long life, but it’s caused us all great stress and distress throughout, but my mother never stopped fighting.
“Until fairly recently she was attending all the meetings, but in the last six months she was too ill.”
Earlier this year Alastair teamed up with investigative journalist Peter Jukes to publish a book entitled Untold: The Daniel Morgan Murder Exposed and a phenomenally successful podcast of the same name, which has so far had eight million downloads.
“I’m very glad that the book was published before my mother died,” said Alastair. “It was important to put the story out there in a form that will always be available.”
As for what the findings of the panel will bring, Alastair is certain.
“I expect it to be extremely unflattering for the police,” he said. “These miscarriages of justice that go on for decades, they need to stop, The police have to recognise the problem. Look at Hillsborough – this case has been going on for longer than Hillsborough.
He added: “Part of the scandal is that we have been protesting about corruption in this case for decades and nobody would listen at first – the Home Office and the police blanked us again and again.”
Alastair believes the findings of the panel may bring some closure.
“It will in a sense but I can’t see myself stopping campaigning against police corruption for the rest of my life, because I feel so strongly about it.
“That will be my tribute to my mother and my brother.”
The Metropolitan Police were approached for comment.