An Garda Síochána to provide information in long-delayed Real IRA killing inquest

An Garda Síochána has acceded to a Northern Ireland coroner’s request for information relevant to a long-delayed inquest into the death of a 31-year-old man, reportedly killed by dissident republicans almost 16 years ago.

Kieran Doherty’s body was discovered on Braehead Road, a road outside Derry and close to the Co Donegal border, on February 24th, 2010.

Mr Doherty had suffered gunshot wounds to the head, and in the days after the killing, the Real IRA – an anti-Belfast Agreement paramilitary group – claimed responsibility. Mr Doherty himself was reportedly a member of the group.

At the High Court this week, it emerged that Judge Brian Sherrard, the coroner charged with holding the inquiry into Mr Doherty’s death, is seeking information relating to material held by gardaí potentially relevant to the killing.

Judge Sherrard made the request for information last August. The coroner set out several questions relating to relevant material held by gardaí, and requested evidence to be taken from a Garda member in respect of the questions.

The coroner’s request was made under provisions in the seldom-used Criminal Justice (International Co-Operation) Act 2019.

The request was acceded to by Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly in November.

To facilitate such a request, the Commissioner is required to ask the High Court to assign a judge to take evidence under oath from a designated member of An Garda Síochána.

This evidence, as provided for under the 2019 Act, will not be given in public.

Lawyers for the Commissioner came before High Court president Mr Justice David Barniville this week to move such an application.

Mr Justice Barniville made an order nominating Mr Justice Paul McDermott to take evidence relevant to the coroner’s request from a named senior Garda member.

According to reports carried by the BBC, lawyers for Mr Doherty’s family told a pre-inquest hearing last year that a lack of information from Irish authorities was the “chief impediment” to the inquest’s progress.

According to court documents, Mr Doherty’s family has publicly questioned whether MI5 was involved in the death. In an interview with a local newspaper prior to his death,

Mr Doherty claimed MI5 had sought to recruit him as an informant.