RUC head bats back inquiry claims

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Former RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan has told the Robert Hamill inquiry he had confidence in his senior officers' investigation.

Mr Hamill, a 25-year-old Catholic man, died 11 days after he was beaten and kicked by a loyalist mob in 1997.

Sir Ronnie was questioned about a claim that one of his officers had told a murder suspect to burn his clothes.

Asked why the officer was not suspended, Sir Ronnie said disciplinary matters were not his responsibility.

Sir Ronnie, who now lives in the Middle East, was chief constable of the RUC and then the PSNI between 1996 and 2002.

Earlier this year, he testified at the inquiries into the murders of Lurgan solicitor Rosemary Nelson and Portadown loyalist Billy Wright.