AN inquest into the death of a UFF victim, Mr Patrick Shanaghan (33), from Castlederg, Co Tyrone, is to resume tomorrow after the RUC Chief Constable won a judicial review in the High Court in Belfast yesterday. Mr Justice Kerr quashed rulings made by the coroner, Mr Ronnie O'Doherty.
A lawyer for the Chief Constable said allegations of police collusion in the murder were unfounded. It was true Mr Shanaghan had been told by police that a photo montage had been lost by the British army and he was warned to be on his guard. However, these were peripheral issues which the coroner should not be investigating.
Counsel for the coroner said the next of kin had raised various issues "and the coroner felt the jury had a right to know". Mr Justice Kerr said a coroner's function was not to conduct a wide ranging inquiry.