The Rosemary Nelson Inquiry Report

Book excerpt: Rosemary Nelson, a solicitor in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, was murdered by a bomb exploding under her car near her home in March 1999. There were claims the police and government ignored a series of warnings about threats against her: concerns about her safety had been raised over a two-year period before she was killed. She had become a hate figure for hardline loyalists - and reportedly some police officers - because of some of the Republican clients she represented. It was claimed she had been threatened by RUC officers as well as loyalist paramilitaries. The Cory Collusion Inquiry (2004, ISBN 9780102927443) investigated the allegations of collusion between British security forces and paramilitaries in her murder, and concluded that there was enough evidence to warrant a full public inquiry. This Inquiry finds no evidence of any act by or within any of the state agencies (Royal Ulster Constabulary, the Northern Ireland Office or the Security Service) which directly facilitated the murder. Some members of the RUC did publicly abuse and assault her in 1997, and make abusive/threatening remarks about her to her clients, which became publicly known. Combined with intelligence leaks these had the effect of legitimising her as a target. There were omissions by the RUC and NIO which rendered her more at risk and more vulnerable. These omissions meant the state failed to take reasonable and proportionate steps to safeguard the life of Rosemary Nelson. The Inquiry finds no evidence of obstruction into the murder investigation, which was carried out with due diligence.