Robert Hamill Inquiry – Lies, Cover-ups, Malpractice
There has been an angry reaction in the Six Counties to a decision not to allow a public inquiry into the murder of county Armagh man, Robert Hamill, to have its terms of reference extended to include an investigation of the prosecution service.
The decision was cynically announced by British direct rule minister Shaun Woodward at the same time as the British Queen visited Armagh city, no doubt in the hope that his controversial announcement would get lost in the media furore surrounding the visit.
The family of Robert Hamill and their legal advisers are understood to be confounded by the ruling.
Hamill was walking home in Portadown in April 1997 when a large gang of loyalists launched an unprovoked attack, beating and stamping him to death.
Eyewitnesses to the savage assault said members of an RUC patrol failed to respond to Hamill's pleas for help and did not intervene to save Mr Hamill.
Six men were later charged with offences relating to Robert’s murder but, one by one, the charges were either reduced or dropped completely.
Lawyers for the Hamill family had formally submitted their request to question prosecution service staff 18 months ago. However, direct rule minister Woodward has now rejected the request, thereby casting a cloud over the integrity and independence of the inquiry, which was established on the recommendation of Canadian judge Peter Cory.
Today’s decision that the British Government will not permit the inquiry to investigate the role of the prosecution is disappointing for the Hamill family and it is possible that a legal challenge may now be made regarding this.
Éirígí spokesperson Brian Leeson said,
“This intervention by the British Government to restrict the remit of the Robert Hamill Inquiry further illustrates the extent to which the British Government are determined to go to prevent the truth of what occurred on, and after, that fateful night in Portadown from becoming fully public. It is further evidence, if any were needed, of the deep, intrinsic and insurmountable flaws that exist within the so-called ‘British justice system’.
“Major questions remain to be answered as to why there was a failure to prosecute not only all the members of the loyalist gang that murdered Robert, but also those RUC officers who covered-up what happened; who failed to maintain the integrity of the murder scene thereby ensuring vital forensic evidence was contaminated and destroyed; and most damningly of all, a failure to prosecute those officers who made unexplained telephone calls to the homes of suspects in the aftermath of the murder.
“We in Éirígí extend our solidarity to the Hamill family and friends and support their campaign for justice as with all of the victims of British law in Ireland.”