Inquest into killing of IRA man delayed again

The inquest into the disputed killing of an IRA man by police has again been delayed, it was confirmed today.

The North's Chief Coroner John Leckey had set a January start date for the inquest into the death of Pearse Jordan in Belfast in 1992 – but during yet another in a series of preliminary hearings he said it could not start before June at the earliest.

When he apologised to the dead man’s parents, Hugh and Teresa Jordan, for the latest delay, they responded in unison “We are used to it”.

Outside the court Mr Jordan said given the likelihood for dispute over several outstanding issues being taken to the High Court for Judicial Review he held out no hope of a June start.

“I would not expect to get anything over the next two years.”

The first preliminary hearing was held in September 2007 and Mr Jordan said: “Since we started on this process I don’t know how many judicial reviews there have been – someone said recently it was at least 25.

“I don’t expect the inquest to start in June – well maybe June 2030.”

Pearse Jordan, 23, an IRA man from the Ballymurphy area of west Belfast, was shot dead by the RUC in disputed circumstances after a car crash in the Falls Road in November 1992.

Witnesses claimed the stolen car he was driving was rammed, and that as he attempted to run away, he was shot three times in the back .

Republicans claim his death was as a result of a “shoot to kill” policy operated by the security forces.

The Department of Public Prosecutions directed years ago that the RUC officer who fired the fatal shots should not be prosecuted.