Nelson request for help `not sent to RUC'

The RUC was not aware that Ms Rosemary Nelson had made applications for personal protection, according to the Chief Constable…

The RUC was not aware that Ms Rosemary Nelson had made applications for personal protection, according to the Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan.

At a meeting with the Northern Ireland Police Authority last month, Sir Ronnie said requests for protection made to the British Prime Minister's offices had never been relayed to his force.

The minutes for the April meeting state: "The Chief Constable advised that Ms Nelson had not sought security advice from the RUC and indicated that, prior to her murder, the RUC did not have information to suggest that she was the subject of a specific terrorist threat."

The report also outlines that members of the authority queried Sir Ronnie on media reports that requests for protection had been made through Downing Street. "The Chief Constable advised that, if such a request had been made, the RUC were not aware of it and had not been requested to take any further action in this regard."

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Mr an Macn Coinnaithe, Breandan Mac Cionnaith, spokesman for the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition, said last night he believed the RUC was aware of the threats to Ms Nelson and her requests for protection.

"Ronnie Flanagan knows the truth of the matter. He is aware of the threats because some of them emanated directly from senior officers in the force. They are well documented by human rights organisations in the North and abroad. They are on the US congressional record," he said.

Mr Mac Cionnaith also dismissed the statement by Sir Ronnie that requests made to Mr Blair for personal protection had not been relayed to the force. He said it was a case of Sir Ronnie "passing the buck" to Mr Blair. "The requests both myself and Cllr Joe Duffy made to Downing Street for protection were relayed to the RUC. I don't see why Rosemary's requests would have been any different."

Sir Ronnie also briefed members of the authority on the criminal investigation into the killing of Ms Nelson. He said 10 of the 50 officers currently investigating the case were from outside the RUC. The composition of the team was now at the discretion of Mr Colin Port, the Deputy Chief Constable of Norfolk, currently heading the day to day inquiry, he added.

The reasons for a police presence in the vicinity of Ms Nelson's home prior to the detonation of the under-car device which killed her were also discussed with Mr Flanagan.