High Court refuses to dismiss Chief Constable’s defence in Loughgall shooting civil case
The Northern Ireland High Court of Justice has refused an application by the representative of a man shot by soldiers in 1987 relating to a delay in the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)’s disclosure of documents in a separate civil case.
The personal representative of Declan Arthurs, one of nine men shot by soldiers in 1987, applied to strike out a defence relating to the delay in disclosure in a civil case relating to Mr Arthurs’ death.
It was noted at the outset that the Mr Arthurs’ death had been the subject of a criminal investigation which led to no prosecutions; an inquest which found that all nine men had died from serious and multiple gunshot wounds; a judicial review of that decision in which the High Court refused to quash the Coroner’s decisions; and a civil case against the Ministry of Defence and the Chief Constable.
The High Court observed that: “It is important to note that this court is not tasked with any role in connection with either the criminal investigation into the death of Mr Arthurs or the inquest into
