2 June 2021
LEGACY INQUEST REVIEW
Press Release
The Presiding Coroner, Mr Justice McFarland, today issued this statement following his review of
legacy related inquests. He has identified a number of inquests which will be progressed by the Legacy
Inquest Unit in Year 2 of the Lord Chief Justice’s Five Year Plan:
“As Presiding Coroner, I have requested and received updated position papers on legacy
inquests to inform a review of legacy related matters. I wish to thank the representatives of the
families and the relevant agencies for providing me with the materials required.
The impact of the Covid 19 pandemic has caused delays and significant changes in the way
inquests, and indeed all areas of legal work, have been progressed over the past year. This is
likely to remain the case for some time and I have considered recovery and ongoing public
health measures as part of my ongoing review.
Work is continuing on delayed Year 1 cases; of the ten inquests listed, findings have been
delivered in the Patrick McElhone inquest, the inquest hearings relating to the death of Neil
McConville have been completed and an additional four Year 1 inquests are listed for hearing
between August and November 2021. The inquest hearings into the death of Kathleen
Thompson should conclude this week. The remaining Year 1 inquests will be listed as soon as
possible thereafter.
The current state of readiness has been the main factor in determining which inquests can be
listed in Year 2. With that in mind, I have identified the following as suitable for listing in Year
2:
1. John Moran
2. John Dougal
Mary Gargan
Father Noel Fitzpatrick
Patrick Butler
David McCafferty
[The Springhill group of inquests]
3. Hugh Gerard Coney
4. Samuel James Marshall
5. Michael James Ryan
Anthony Patrick Doris
Laurence McNally
[The Coagh inquests]
6. Seamus Patrick Dillon
7. Fergal McCusker
8. Desmond Healey
These inquests will now be managed to hearing.”
The Hon Mr Justice McFarland
22nd June 2021
