An inquest into the killing of an INLA man who was shot dead by undercover British soldiers almost seven years ago ended yesterday when the coroner discharged jurors minutes after they had handed him a document which they said contained their unanimous finding.
After 2 1/2 days of evidence into the death of Mr Alex Patterson (31), a father of four, who was shot dead at Victoria Bridge near Strabane in Co Tyrone in November 1990, the jury retired to reach a finding.
Two hours later the jury told the coroner, Mr Ronnie O'Doherty, that they were unable to reach a unanimous finding. However, they felt that if given more time they would arrive at a finding. Half an hour later the jury returned to the courtroom in Derry court.
The forewoman told Mr O'Doherty that they had reached a unanimous verdict and handed him a document which she said contained their verdict. The coroner read the document for several minutes and then asked the jurors if they felt pressurised into reaching a finding.
When several jurors replied "Yes", Mr O'Doherty discharged them without a finding being reached.