PSNI and MoD pressed to be ready for resumption of inquest into 1994 shooting

Police and the Ministry of Defence have been pressed to ensure all materials are ready for the resumption of an inquest into the death of a man in west Belfast 30 years ago.

Liam Paul Thompson, 25, died on April 27 1994 after being shot in the area of Springfield Park in west Belfast.

He was shot in a taxi on his way home in an attack that has been attributed to loyalist paramilitaries.

His family believe that police were aware that the taxi firm had been under a credible threat from loyalist paramilitaries.

The inquest, which is being heard in a modular format, opened last April for a number of hearings.

It is set to resume hearings on February 26 and will hear from former police officers.

At a review hearing at Belfast Coroner’s Court on Wednesday, counsel to the coroner Ian Skelt asked for an update on progress by the PSNI and Ministry of Defence in terms of preparation for a Public Interest Immunity (PII) hearing on February 7.

Barrister Stephen Ritchie said the PSNI and MoD are “on track” for completing the process for PII hearing.

He said the MoD certificate is now available and the PSNI process is not complete but is set to be completed “within a matter of days”.

“The sensitive material will be released to the coroner by, at the latest, next week,” he said.

All legacy inquests are currently under pressure to finish hearings by May 1 or risk being cut off by the UK government’s Legacy Act.

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, which gained royal assent last year, will halt all legacy inquests that have not reached a point of verdict by May 1.

A number of Troubles victims have launched legal action against the new laws and the Irish Government has announced it is to challenge the Act in the European Court of Human Rights.

Coroner Louisa Fee directed the material should be forwarded within one week, and disseminated to all the properly interested persons.

“We’re very tight on time. This case is due to recommence on 26th February, that’s not long away at all,” she added.

“I am going to direct that all of the material has to be provided by 7th February at the very latest. I appreciate that that’s only two weeks but the other properly interested parties to the inquest have to have an opportunity, along with myself, to consider what this material is in advance of February 26.”

Barrister Sinead Kyle, representing the Thompson family, said it has been almost 30 years since Mr Thompson’s death.

“We’re obviously keen to undertake as much work as possible in advance of the hearing,” she said.

The resumed inquest is set to start on February 26, and is expected to sit for three weeks at Banbridge Courthouse.

Mr Thompson’s brother Eugene said outside court that there has never been an inquest nor any “full independent or effective investigation” into his brother’s death.

He has called for the inquest to proceed in compliance with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights.