Theresa Villiers and PSNI drop bid to block inquest files release to families

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

'These are public records about public inquests and court hearings have already been heard and reported in public, so the question is why did they try to prevent them going to the families'

THE British Government and the PSNI have dropped their High Court bid to block Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín’s release of inquest files to a victims’ group and a law firm on three conflict-related killings by British state forces and a pro-British death squad.

The British Government and PSNI had cited concerns about potential security risks in the files – even though the information had already been in the public domain.

Early on Friday evening 9 August, Relatives for Justice Chairperson Clara Reilly and Relatives for Justice Director Mark Thompson met with Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister Carál Ní Chuilín, who personally handed them copies of inquest papers and a trial transcript which RFJ had previously made Freedom of Information requests for on behalf of families.

Carál Ní Chuilín’s department has responsibility for the Public Records Office, where the papers are held.

The files relate to:-

● North Belfast man and IRA Volunteer Patrick McAdorey, shot dead by the British Army in Ardoyne on the night of the raids enforcing internment without trial, 9 August 1971;

● Michael Donnelly (20), killed by a British Army plastic bullet on 9 August 1980; and

● 44-year-old mother of two, Sarah Ann Larmour, shot dead by the unionist Ulster Volunteer Force at her home in west Belfast in October 1979.

The British Government’s most senior legal advisers immediately swung into action and lodged a late-night appeal by Secretary of State Theresa Villiers and PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott to secure an emergency injunction against the Sinn Féin minister's move.

Sinn Féin MP Conor Murphy said at the time:

“Sinn Féin is concerned at any efforts by the NIO to interfere with the responsibilities of a devolved minister in serving the rights of local citizens.

“The irony is that these are public records about public inquest and court hearings, which have already been heard and reported in public yet the NIO now wants to prevent access to them.

“Sinn Féin will continue to support relatives and survivors in their quest for full disclosure and truth from the state.”

Today, the Secretary of State and the PSNI Chief Constable withdrew their blocking motion, stating that the injunction was no longer necessary.

Sinn Féin MLA Rosie McCorley, a member of the Justice and Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure committees at the Assembly, said in response:

 “The release of these inquest files is about the rights of citizens and the ability of the Executive to respond to those rights on a case-by-case basis. Today’s decision has vindicated the minister’s actions.

 “This injunction should never have been brought in the first place and all that the British Secretary of State and Chief Constable have done is add more grief to the families.

“These are public records about public inquests and court hearings have already been heard and reported in public, so the question is why did they try to prevent them going to the families.”