Gareth O’Connor
AN inquest into the death of a dissident republican murdered because he was a suspected police informant could be “derailed”, a coroner’s court was told yesterday.
The investigation into the death of Gareth O’Connor, who disappeared in May 2003 on his way to sign bail at Dundalk Garda Station, is facing significant delay because his family want to see sensitive police papers which identify people linked to the killing.
The 24-year-old father-of-two from Knockamell Park in Armagh was discovered inside a car in Newry Canal in June 2005 – over two years after going missing.
Gerry McAlinden, barrister for the Coroners Service, said naming certain individuals could put them at risk of death or assault and under the State’s duty to protect life each person had to be given an opportunity to challenge the disclosure.
He said: “If their names may be revealed through the process of this investigation, you (coroner) have to allow them to know in advance that such disclosure is going to take place and thereafter allow them to make representation to you (coroner) in advance. This procedure has the potential to derail the timescale of this inquest but it is a procedure that has to be gone through.”
A non jury inquest is scheduled for November but Mr McAlinden raised concerns that timescale could slip.
