The NUJ has marked the fourth anniversary of the murder of Sunday
World journalist Martin O’Hagan by calling on the Police Service of
Northern Ireland to hand over the investigation into his killing to an
outside force.
O’Hagan was shot dead by a gunman as he and his
wife Marie walked home from a night out in a local pub in Lurgan on 28
September 28 2001.
NUJ Irish secretary Séamus Dooley said
rumours linking police informers to the death of O’Hagan raised
fundamental questions about the murder.
Dooley said: “In our
discussions with the PSNI we have been advised that the police do not
have sufficient evidence to bring charges against the suspects.
“There
is a strong belief that the police know who killed Martin O’Hagan.
Throughout Northern Ireland there is a deep suspicion that some of
those linked to the murder have had an association with the police and
army and are in some way protected from prosecution.
“The only
way this matter can be resolved is for the Chief Constable of the PSNI
to hand over the investigation to an outside body.”
Dooley also
condemned the campaign against the Sunday World by Loyalist groups
which have seen copies of the paper set alight inside shops,
shopkeepers and van drivers threatened and vehicles hijacked.
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