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Nelson public inquiry set to open Nelson family will 'wait and see'
(about 2 hours later)
A public inquiry into the murder of Lurgan solicitor Rosemary Nelson is expected due to get under way. The brother of the murdered solicitor Rosemary Nelson says the family will adopt a wait and see attitude to the public inquiry into her killing.
The mother-of-three, 40, died after a booby-trap bomb which had been left by loyalists exploded under her car in March 1999. Eunan Magee was speaking as he went into the hearing in Belfast.
He said the family would wait before making any judgement on whether the security forces were cooperating fully with the inquiry.
The mother-of-three, 40, died after a booby-trap bomb left by loyalists exploded under her car in March 1999.
Mr Magee said the years since the killing had been horrendous.
Mr Magee said: "We lost our father along the way, and I suppose the hardest thing of the whole lot is to sit and watch your parents having lost a child.
"From that point of view, it is something that we have to do in order to be able to move on with our own lives.
"I do believe that an awful lot is going to be relived over the next days and months and it is going to be hard to listen to.
"I do believe that we are just going to have to take a step above it."
'Opening statement'
Retired judge Sir Michael Morland is chairing a three-strong panel examining alleged security force collusion.Retired judge Sir Michael Morland is chairing a three-strong panel examining alleged security force collusion.
Mrs Nelson's brother, Eunan Magee, said the family would adopt a wait and see attitude to the inquiry.
Speaking before going into the inquiry, Mr Magee said the years since the killing of his sister had been "horrendous".
He also said the family would wait before making any judgement on whether the security forces were cooperating fully.
Last September, a Police Ombudsman report found that threats made against her months before she was murdered were not properly investigated by the RUC.Last September, a Police Ombudsman report found that threats made against her months before she was murdered were not properly investigated by the RUC.
Under its remit, the inquiry must determine whether the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), Northern Ireland Office (NIO), Army or other state agency facilitated the murder, or blocked attempts to investigate it.Under its remit, the inquiry must determine whether the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), Northern Ireland Office (NIO), Army or other state agency facilitated the murder, or blocked attempts to investigate it.
The collusion allegations arose because of Mrs Nelson's role as the legal representative in a number of high profile cases, including that of the nationalist Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition in Portadown.The collusion allegations arose because of Mrs Nelson's role as the legal representative in a number of high profile cases, including that of the nationalist Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition in Portadown.
The inquiry will begin with an opening statement on the background to the case by counsel to the inquiry, Rory Phillips QC. The inquiry began with an opening statement on the background to the case by counsel to the inquiry, Rory Phillips QC.
The panel is examining alleged security force collusionThe panel is examining alleged security force collusion
It is understood the statement could take several days to deliver.It is understood the statement could take several days to deliver.
The inquiry, which opened in 2005 to set out its terms of reference, has already gathered tens of thousands of documents.The inquiry, which opened in 2005 to set out its terms of reference, has already gathered tens of thousands of documents.
Established by former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Paul Murphy in November 2004, the hearings could last for at least two years.Established by former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Paul Murphy in November 2004, the hearings could last for at least two years.
The inquiry panel is also comprised of Dame Valerie Strachan, former chairman of the board of Customs and Excise, and Sir Anthony Burden, former chief constable of South Wales Police.The inquiry panel is also comprised of Dame Valerie Strachan, former chairman of the board of Customs and Excise, and Sir Anthony Burden, former chief constable of South Wales Police.