PSNI admits serious RUC failings in 1997 sectarian murder of Robert Hamill

A senior PSNI officer says policing standards were not met in the probe into the murder of Robert Hamill, who died after a loyalist attack in Portadown.

PSNI acknowledges 'unacceptable failings' in Robert Hamill murder investigation

The PSNI has admitted that the standards expected of policing were not met in the handling of the 1997 sectarian murder of Robert Hamill, according to a statement reported by TheJournal.ie.

Assistant Chief Constable Anthony McNally said that while policing in Northern Ireland has changed fundamentally since 1997, any failures identified by the inquiry "must continue to inform policing."

Hamill, a 25-year-old Catholic, died after he and a friend were beaten by loyalists as they walked along Portadown's Market Street following a night out. He suffered serious head injuries and died 11 days after the attack. The father of three's murder has never resulted in a conviction.

A long-running public inquiry, which published its findings on Monday, concluded that police officers present in a Land Rover near the scene "did not condone or collude" with the attackers. However, the report found that a number of "wrongful acts and omissions" by Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers obstructed the investigation into his murder.

Among the failures cited was the failure to properly search the home of a key suspect.

A sister of Robert Hamill said the failings documented in the report had "led to those who murdered our brother evading justice."

Responding in a statement issued on Wednesday evening, McNally described Hamill as "an innocent young man killed by a despicable act of sectarian hatred."

"The pain of such a grievous loss does not fade and I am acutely aware that this report will be very upsetting for the family. My thoughts are with them," he said.

McNally set out a series of specific failings identified in the report, including shortcomings in the initial debriefing of officers, the recording and pursuit of information, the direction and oversight of the murder investigation, and the handling of an allegation that Reserve Constable Atkinson had tipped off a suspect.

"The inquiry found that these failures obstructed the murder investigation," he said. "It also found that, while the Land Rover crew did not condone or collude with the attackers, they failed to appreciate that Robert Hamill was being attacked before they left their vehicle."

McNally acknowledged that shortcomings in supervision, investigative practice, record-keeping, forensic strategy and accountability had "serious consequences," and that "the standards expected of policing were not met."

He pointed to significant institutional changes within the PSNI since 1997, including the establishment of independent police oversight and the development of modern major-crime investigation and forensic-management arrangements.

"However, the passage of time and organisational change do not diminish the gravity of the inquiry's findings or the need to learn from them," McNally said.

The PSNI said it will assess the report's findings and recommendations against current policy, training, assurance and governance arrangements, and will work with the Northern Ireland Policing Board, the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and other relevant partners where appropriate.

McNally concluded by acknowledging "the dignity and persistence of the Hamill family over many years," adding that Hamill's death and the failures identified "must continue to inform policing and our commitment to impartial, accountable and effective service to every community."

Source: TheJournal.ie