Oral statement to Parliament

Robert Hamill Inquiry and Rosemary Nelson Inquiry: publication delay

Secretary of State informed the House of a delay to the publication of the reports of the Robert Hamill and Rosemary Nelson Inquiries.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
The Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Owen Paterson said:

It is with regret that I must inform the House of a delay to the publication of the reports of the Robert Hamill and Rosemary Nelson Inquiries.

The Robert Hamill Inquiry has recently informed me that it expects to deliver its report to me by the end of February 2011. The Rosemary Nelson Inquiry informs me that it currently expects to deliver its report by the end of April 2011. I have written to both Inquiries to ask them to expedite their work and to continue to bear down on costs in these remaining months.

As with the Bloody Sunday and the Billy Wright Inquiries, it is my intention to publish these reports as soon as practicable after I receive them, and I will inform and update the House accordingly.

Published 16 December 2010