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| Coroner John Leckey 'to lift suspension' of Troubles inquests | Coroner John Leckey 'to lift suspension' of Troubles inquests |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| It is expected that Northern Ireland's senior coroner will lift the suspension that he imposed on inquests into 21 controversial Troubles killings. | It is expected that Northern Ireland's senior coroner will lift the suspension that he imposed on inquests into 21 controversial Troubles killings. |
| The majority of cases involve people who were killed by the Army in the 1970s. | The majority of cases involve people who were killed by the Army in the 1970s. |
| Mr Leckey suspended the hearings in November, citing potential national security concerns. | Mr Leckey suspended the hearings in November, citing potential national security concerns. |
| However, some of the families of those who died launched a legal challenge against the coroner's suspension. | However, some of the families of those who died launched a legal challenge against the coroner's suspension. |
| According to the investigative website, href="http://www.thedetail.tv/issues/168/inquest-suspensions-lifting/grieve-bats-troubles-inquests-back-to-coroner" >the Detail, Mr Leckey is expected to confirm on Monday that he will no longer contest the families' challenge against the suspension. | |
| The 21 inquests include the deaths of 11 people shot dead by the Army in west Belfast over a three-day period in Ballymurphy, west Belfast in 1971. | The 21 inquests include the deaths of 11 people shot dead by the Army in west Belfast over a three-day period in Ballymurphy, west Belfast in 1971. |
| The cases also include the death of Belfast schoolboy, Francis Rowntree. The 11-year-old was playing with his friends in west Belfast in 1972 when he was fatally injured by a rubber bullet fired by a soldier. | The cases also include the death of Belfast schoolboy, Francis Rowntree. The 11-year-old was playing with his friends in west Belfast in 1972 when he was fatally injured by a rubber bullet fired by a soldier. |
| Fresh inquests into the 21 killings were ordered last year by Northern Ireland's top lawyer, Attorney General, John Larkin. | Fresh inquests into the 21 killings were ordered last year by Northern Ireland's top lawyer, Attorney General, John Larkin. |
| However, Mr Leckey said that he believed Mr Larkin may have exceeded his powers and may not have had the legal authority to order the new inquests. | However, Mr Leckey said that he believed Mr Larkin may have exceeded his powers and may not have had the legal authority to order the new inquests. |
| The coroner adjourned the inquests on 15 November 2012. | The coroner adjourned the inquests on 15 November 2012. |
| Mr Leckey then referred the matter to Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers, to seek clarification, as national security issues are not devolved from Westminster. | Mr Leckey then referred the matter to Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers, to seek clarification, as national security issues are not devolved from Westminster. |
| Representatives for the families said some of them had waited more than 40 years for fresh inquests into their loved one's deaths and were very upset by the blanket suspension. | Representatives for the families said some of them had waited more than 40 years for fresh inquests into their loved one's deaths and were very upset by the blanket suspension. |