Police involved in IRA man’s inquest perjured selves, judge told

Two police officers involved in the inquest of an IRA man killed in Belfast by security forces more than 20 years ago should be investigated for allegedly perverting the course of justice and perjury, a judge has been told.

Lawyers for the family of Pearse Jordan returned to Belfast's High Court to request that anonymity orders protecting the identities of Officers "M" and "Q" also be lifted.

Karen Quinlivin QC said: “It is in the public interest in people knowing and having information about wrongdoing.

“The allegation is that two police officers perverted the course of justice in a murder inquiry - that’s not minor, that’s serious - and thereafter perjured themselves in an inquest.”

Twenty-two-year-old Mr Jordan was shot dead by a Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officer in west Belfast in 1992.

Stolen car

He had been driving a stolen car suspected of ferrying IRA munitions when the fatal incident unfolded. He failed to stop when ordered to by police and sped away from a patrol car.

The Ford Orion was finally brought to a halt on the Falls Road when police rammed the vehicle. Mr Jordan was shot after getting out of the car when he tried to run away.

Earlier this week, Mr Justice Horner delivered findings in what was the third inquest into the highly contentious circumstances surrounding the death.

The coroner said he was not convinced either by family claims Mr Jordan was shot in cold blood or by police insistence the RUC sergeant acted in self-defence.

Testimony from Officers M and Q, who were not directly involved in the shooting, was also criticised as inconsistent, contradictory and unconvincing.

Justice Horner said the officers had been “untruthful” and that one or both may have edited log books.

During Thursday’s brief hearing, Ms Quinlivin argued: “If somebody is suspected of involvement in serious misconduct that’s a factor which should give rise to a review of anonymity.”

The barrister also called for the alleged wrongdoing to be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for further investigation.

Legal representatives for the PSNI and Officers M and Q opposed the application.

Tony McGleenan QC, representing the PSNI, said lifting anonymity orders could increase the genuine risk to both officers’ lives.

He said: “If anything, the risk to the individual would remain static and could potentially increase.

“It would not under any rational analysis decrease.

“These are not soldiers who have returned - these are individuals who live in this jurisdiction and the court knows that.”

The investigation into the shooting has been beset by controversy and delay.

Lengthy hold-ups

In 2014, the Jordan family were awarded compensation for the lengthy hold-ups in concluding an inquest.

An original inquest was adjourned in 1995 after being only part-heard. Another inquiry was held in 2012 but the jury failed to reach consensus on a number of crucial issues, including whether the RUC used reasonable force.

Those findings were later quashed after the High Court identified a number of failings in how the inquiry was run.

On Monday, Justice Horner said it was impossible to determine with certainty what happened.

Adjourning the matter for further legal argument until November 21st, Justice Horner said any ruling could have “wide-ranging consequences”.

Press Association