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Hamill inquiry drawing to close QC puts Hamill case against RUC
(about 2 hours later)
A public inquiry into the murder of a Portadown man 12 years ago will begin hearing final submissions from lawyers for the key witnesses later on Monday. A lawyer for the family of a man who was kicked to death by a loyalist mob will outline later why they believe police could have saved him.
Robert Hamill, a 25-year-old Catholic, was beaten to death by a loyalist mob in the town in April 1997. Robert Hamill, a 25-year-old Catholic, was attacked in the centre of Portadown in April 1997.
The inquiry was set up to examine if armed RUC officers who were near the scene at the time of the murder could or should have done more to prevent it. He died 11 days later, just days before the birth of his third child.
The inquiry has heard from 174 witnesses who gave evidence in person. His family's barrister, Barra McGrory QC, will outline why they believe that four RUC officers facilitated his death by failing to intervene.
The armed police officers were sitting in a land rover parked just yards from the scene of the attack.
In his closing submission to the public inquiry into Robert Hamill's death at Belfast's Interpoint centre, Mr McGrory will also argue that one of those RUC officers obstructed the police investigation by telling a suspect to destroy evidence.
Over the next fortnight, the panel will also hear closing submissions from lawyers representing the police officers, the former chief constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan and civilian witnesses.
The inquiry was set up to examine if the armed RUC officers who were near the scene at the time of the murder could or should have done more to prevent it.
The inquiry has heard from 174 witnesses who gave evidence in person, including some of those accused of the killing.
A further 37 witness statements have been read out during the hearings in Belfast city centre.A further 37 witness statements have been read out during the hearings in Belfast city centre.
The panel hopes to publish its findings late next year.