Cory Collusion Inquiry
Encyclopedia
The Cory Collusion Inquiry was established to conduct an independent inquiry into deaths relating to the 'Troubles' in Northern Ireland
.
A retired Canadian supreme court judge, Peter Cory was appointed to undertake a thorough investigation of allegations of collusion
between British and Irish security forces and paramilitaries in six particular cases in Northern Ireland. Two of the cases - the killing of two Royal Ulster Constabulary
officers and the killing of Northern Ireland Lord Justice Maurice Gibson
and Lady Cecily Gibson - relate to allegations of collusion by the Garda Síochána
and these reports were submitted to the Irish Government.
is currently considering evidence (as of October 2006).
In the case of Lord Justice and Lady Gibson, who were killed in a car-bomb explosion by the Provisional IRA on 25 April 1987, Mr Justice Cory concluded that there is no evidence of collusion by the Garda Síochána or any other Government agency that would warrant the holding of an inquiry.
The other four cases - the murders of Pat Finucane
, Robert Hamill
, Rosemary Nelson
and Billy Wright
- relate to allegations of collusion by British
security forces and these were submitted to the British Government.
the Reverend John Oliver
.
On 7 June 2005 the British government passed the Inquiries Act 2005
, limiting the scope of the inquiries proposed by Cory, which Cory has criticised, stating that it "...would make a meaningful inquiry impossible"
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
A retired Canadian supreme court judge, Peter Cory was appointed to undertake a thorough investigation of allegations of collusion
Collusion
Collusion is an agreement between two or more persons, sometimes illegal and therefore secretive, to limit open competition by deceiving, misleading, or defrauding others of their legal rights, or to obtain an objective forbidden by law typically by defrauding or gaining an unfair advantage...
between British and Irish security forces and paramilitaries in six particular cases in Northern Ireland. Two of the cases - the killing of two Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
officers and the killing of Northern Ireland Lord Justice Maurice Gibson
Maurice Gibson
Sir Maurice Gibson PC was a Lord Justice of Appeal in Northern Ireland, he was killed, along with his wife Cecily, Lady Gibson, during an attack by the Provisional Irish Republican Army ....
and Lady Cecily Gibson - relate to allegations of collusion by the Garda Síochána
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
and these reports were submitted to the Irish Government.
The Inquiry
In the case of the two RUC officers, who were killed in an ambush by the Provisional IRA on 20 March 1989, Cory considered all the relevant material, including intelligence reports, and concluded that evidence was revealed that, if accepted, could be found to constitute collusion. As a result, he recommended a public inquiry into the matter. The Smithwick TribunalSmithwick Tribunal
The Smithwick Tribunal is a judicial inquiry being held in Blackhall Place, Dublin, Ireland, into the events surrounding the murders of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Robert Buchanan of the Royal Ulster Constabulary...
is currently considering evidence (as of October 2006).
In the case of Lord Justice and Lady Gibson, who were killed in a car-bomb explosion by the Provisional IRA on 25 April 1987, Mr Justice Cory concluded that there is no evidence of collusion by the Garda Síochána or any other Government agency that would warrant the holding of an inquiry.
The other four cases - the murders of Pat Finucane
Pat Finucane (solicitor)
Patrick Finucane was a Catholic Belfast solicitor killed by loyalist paramilitaries on 12 February 1989. His killing was one of the most controversial during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Finucane came to prominence due to successfully challenging the British Government over several important...
, Robert Hamill
Robert Hamill
Robert Hamill was a Catholic civilian who was beaten to death by a loyalist mob in Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Hamill and his friends were attacked on 27 April 1997 on the town's main street. It has been claimed that the local Royal Ulster Constabulary , parked a short distance...
, Rosemary Nelson
Rosemary Nelson
Rosemary Nelson was a prominent Northern Irish human rights lawyer who was killed by a loyalist paramilitary group in 1999...
and Billy Wright
Billy Wright (loyalist)
William Stephen "Billy" Wright was a prominent Ulster loyalist during the period of violent religious/political conflict known as "The Troubles". He joined the Ulster Volunteer Force in 1975 and became commander of its Mid-Ulster Brigade in the early 1990s...
- relate to allegations of collusion by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
security forces and these were submitted to the British Government.
The result
Cory recommended in all four cases that the UK Government hold public inquiries:- An inquiry into Rosemary Nelson case opened at the CraigavonCraigavonCraigavon is a settlement in north County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It was a planned settlement that was begun in 1965 and named after Northern Ireland's first Prime Minister — James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon. It was intended to be a linear city incorporating Lurgan and Portadown, but this plan...
Civic Centre in April 2005 . The panel members are Sir Michael Morland (Chair), Dame Valerie Strachan and Sir Anthony Burden.
- June 2005 saw the Billy Wright inquiry open , chaired by Lord MacLeanRanald MacLean, Lord MacLeanRanald Norman Munro MacLean, Lord MacLean is a retired Scottish judge.Born on 18 December 1938, MacLean was educated at Fettes College in Edinburgh, where he was Head of School. He graduated BA from Clare College, Cambridge, LLB from the University of Edinburgh and LLM from Yale University...
. Also sitting on the inquiry are academic professor Andrew CoyleAndrew CoyleAndrew Coyle, CMG is Emeritus Professor of Prison Studies in London University and Visiting Professor in the University of Essex. He is Director of the International Centre for Prison Studies, a post which he also held from between 1997 and 2005...
from the University of LondonUniversity of London-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
and the former Bishop of HerefordBishop of HerefordThe Bishop of Hereford is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Hereford in the Province of Canterbury.The see is in the City of Hereford where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary and Saint Ethelbert which was founded as a cathedral in 676.The Bishop's residence is...
,
the Reverend John Oliver
John Keith Oliver
John Keith Oliver was the Anglican Bishop of Hereford from 1990 to 2003. Educated at Westminster and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. He married Merial Moore in 1961. After a curacy in Norfolk, he then spent a period as chaplain and assistant master at Eton. Following incumbencies in...
.
- The preliminary hearing of the Robert Hamill Inquiry was held on 24 May 2005 in PortadownPortadownPortadown is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town sits on the River Bann in the north of the county, about 23 miles south-west of Belfast...
. The inquiry is chaired by Sir Edwin Jowitt, the other panel members are Sir John Evans and Reverend Baroness (Kathleen) Richardson of CalowKathleen Richardson, Baroness Richardson of CalowThe Rev'd Kathleen Margaret Richardson, Baroness Richardson of Calow OBE is a cross-bench member of the House of Lords.She was the first woman President of the Methodist Conference from 1992 to 1993...
and started its full hearings in January 2009.
- The UK Government announced an inquiry would be held into the Pat Finucane case . This has yet to open.
On 7 June 2005 the British government passed the Inquiries Act 2005
Inquiries Act 2005
The Inquiries Act 2005 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. According to the Department for Constitutional Affairs, the Act "is designed to provide a framework under which future inquiries, set up by Ministers into events that have caused or have potential to cause public concern,...
, limiting the scope of the inquiries proposed by Cory, which Cory has criticised, stating that it "...would make a meaningful inquiry impossible"
External links
- Cory Collusion Inquiry Report - Chief Superintendent Breen and Superintendent Buchanan 7 October 2003
- Cory Collusion Inquiry Report - Lord Justice Gibson and Lady Gibson 7 October 2003
- Cory Collusion Inquiry Report -Billy Wright HMSO. 2004
- Cory Collusion Inquiry Report - Robert Hamill HMSO. 2004
- Cory Collusion Inquiry Report - Rosemary Nelson HMSO. 2004
- Cory Collusion Inquiry Report - Pat Finucane HMSO. 2004