Coroner faces legal battle over TV riot footage

A CORONER in the North could face a legal battle over using TV footage of a riot in Derry where a Catholic man was crushed to death by a British army vehicle.

Nearly a decade after Dermot McShane was killed, new attempts are being made to begin the inquest into his death next February. David Hunter, deputy coroner for Derry district, urged lawyers representing the dead man’s family, the British ministry of defence and police to agree the scope of the hearing and questions are to be put to a jury.

Mr Hunter also revealed at a preliminary hearing in Derry courthouse yesterday he had written to TV companies who filmed the July 1996 disturbances in the city which led to Mr McShane’s death.