Northern Irish Courts - Miscellaneous

Neutral Citation No: [2024] NICoroner 23     Judgment: approved by the court for handing down (subject to editorial corrections)*

Ref:                HUD12493                        ICOS No:          Delivered:     16/04/2024

 

 

IN THE CORONER’S COURT IN NORTHERN IRELAND

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BEFORE THE CORONER

MR JUSTICE HUDDLESTON

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IN THE MATTER OF AN INQUEST INTO THE DEATHS OF

DANIEL DOHERTY AND WILLIAM FLEMING

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FINAL RULING ON ANONYMITY AND SCREENING

PW 6,19,20,21 & 31

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[1]       I previously made provisional rulings on the applications for anonymity and screening made by members of the DMSU who have now given evidence to the Inquest into the deaths of Messrs Doherty & Fleming.  Those rulings were provisional because the security assessments were not available to me at the point that their evidence was to be provided and I did not wish to delay the Inquest.

 

[2]       The security assessments that subsequently were received have adopted a standard form, but they would not have altered my view given the precautionary approach that I have adopted to applications for special measures generally and set out in my previous Rulings.

 

[3]       This Ruling is therefore the final ruling in respect of the witnesses known under the cipher PW 6,19, 20, 21 & 31 - each of whom who has given a statement of his involvement in matters concerning the death of Messrs Doherty & Fleming and have now given evidence to the Inquest with the benefit of special measures.

 

[4]       For completeness I confirm as final the provisional ruling previously given. Each witness in my view was and remains entitled to anonymity and, given that they have now given evidence with the benefit of screening I confirm that I remain of the view that whilst done on a provisional basis that was the correct approach in all the circumstances.