Robert Hamill Inquiry witnesses to give evidence behind screens
The Robert Hamill Inquiry has ruled that 19 witnesses who are serving or retired police officers may give their evidence from behind a screen, but will not be granted full anonymity. This ruling has been made in response to applications for anonymity and screening on behalf of a number of serving and retired police officers due to give evidence. Those applications were based upon the continuing activity of dissident republican terrorists, including the recent murders of a PSNI officer and two soldiers.
A spokesperson for the Inquiry said:
"After giving careful consideration to all relevant evidence and legal argument, the Inquiry Panel has today ruled that 19 witnesses who are serving or retired police officers may give their evidence from behind a screen.
While their names will be made public, screening will mean that the witnesses in question cannot be visually identified which will offer them some additional protection.
"screening will mean that the witnesses in question cannot be visually identified which will offer them some additional protection."
The public will still have access to the hearing chamber.
The Panel's detailed ruling makes extensive reference to the materials which it has seen and the evidence which it has heard. With regret, the panel has concluded that its full ruling ought not to be published, by reason of section 19(4)(b) of the Inquiries Act 2005. That is because of the nature of those materials and that evidence.
The Panel would further ask that the media refrain from taking any photographs and from filming any serving or former police officers who give evidence to this Inquiry in the light of the current security situation."
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