RUC OFFICERS investigating the murder of Portadown Catholic Robert Hamill in 1997 did not have the stomach to mount a surveillance operation on a police colleague suspected of helping a suspect, the inquiry into the murder has heard.
Dave Wood, former director of investigations for Nuala O’Loan when she was police ombudsman, said he believed there was “resistance” regarding proper conduct of the police investigation of the actions of reserve constable Robert Atkinson and a “culture” among local police officers which was not helpful. He had been tasked with reviewing the Hamill murder case and later recommended changing the head of the investigation.
“The RUC were resisting the prospect of intrusive surveillance,” he said. “I saw it at the time culturally. I think it was about the stomach to do this to their own.”
He told the inquiry the RUC strategy regarding surveillance of suspects was flawed in that preparatory work needed to carry out surveillance had not been carried out.
“They had not done their basic work so their strategy was flawed to me,” he said.
He also said that the suspect was seen as a local hero in Portadown and some people were “incensed” that police were devoting such resources to the case. Mr Wood also confirmed that there was a feeling among local police that the police suspect was being “persecuted” and that further investigation of him would have “severe morale implications” for the force.
Constable Atkinson later faced conspiracy charges but his case never went to trial.
It was put to Mr Wood by Charles Adair QC, counsel for the police officers, that his judgment was flawed because he was relatively new to Northern Ireland at the time and did not understand the sensitivities of the case.
“You blew it, Mr Wood, you were totally wrong,” he said.
But Mr Wood rejected this.