THE INQUIRY into the death of Robert Hamill has heard its final submission in public hearing and is preparing to write its report next month.
Sir Edwin Jowett, chairman of the inquiry, along with the Rev Baroness (Kathleen) Richardson and Sir John Evans, heard counsel for the inquiry sum up the last 12 months of hearings.
Ashley Underwood QC told the inquiry in Belfast that the primary purpose of a public inquiry was to allay public concern.
The inquiry is investigating the murder of Robert Hamill (25), who was kicked to death by a crowd in Portadown, Co Armagh, in 1997.
There have been concerns that the RUC at the time may have aided and abetted a murderer and that the subsequent investigation and prosecutions may have been poorly conducted.
Mr Underwood told the inquiry: “In this instance that concern was that the police may have aided and abetted a murder, possibly for sectarian motives, and that the murder investigation and any prosecutions may have been poorly conducted, again possibly for sectarian motives. I respectfully suggest that a concern of that gravity required the most thorough investigation in order to allay it.”
Former RUC chief constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan has denied that he tried to impede any investigation into alleged collusion by his officers and loyalists connected with the case. In two appearances before the inquiry he has also denied he withheld any information from the then Northern secretary, the late Mo Mowlam.
Mr Underwood said he was handing over to the inquiry some 90,000 pages of evidence and some 1,500 pages of statements.
The inquiry has cost about £28 million (€32 million) to date, and the total cost is expected to reach some £34 million.