Hugh Gerard Coney Wiki
Hugh Gerard Coney Biography
Who was Hugh Gerard Coney?
Hugh Gerard Coney, 24, was shot in the back by a British soldier as he and other detainees tried to escape from Long Kesh Detention Center in Northern Ireland, a facility used to house suspected paramilitary prisoners.
The Republican boarding school had used a tunnel to escape from the prison camp and was running through a field near a perimeter fence when he was fatally shot in 1974.
A new inquest into the shooting of Mr Coney, of Coalisland, County Tyrone, will be heard in February.
At a pre-inquest review at Belfast Coroner’s Court today, Coroner Anne Louise Toal heard an update on her investigator’s efforts to track down military witnesses to the incident.
Fiona Doherty QC, solicitor for the coroner, said: “Six have responded and are willing to help.”
She said a number of former soldiers have sought legal representation from the Crown Counsel’s Office (CSO).
Ms Doherty added:
Ms Doherty added: “The rest are happy, certainly at the moment, not to be represented.”
She also said that the process of taking witness statements before the investigation could start “very quickly”.
At the hearing it was also reported today that three former police officers had responded to contact letters from the Forensic Service about the upcoming investigation.
Donal Lunny KC, representing the Northern Ireland Police Service and the Ministry of Defence, confirmed that three of the six former soldiers have contacted the CSO.
Witness
He said none of the potential police witnesses have the CSO yet.
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The preliminary hearing also received an update on the process for disclosing sensitive police, military, and government documents prior to the investigation.
The coroner welcomed the progress but stressed the importance of maintaining ‘momentum’ ahead of the current start date of late February.
Investigation
Mr. Coney’s investigation has been listed despite continued uncertainty as to whether some pending investigations will not have a chance to be heard due to planned laws intended to prevent future legacy investigations.
The Government is currently submitting its controversial legacy legislation to Parliament.
The bill would offer immunity from prosecution to people accused of committing crimes during the riots, as long as they cooperate with a new truth recovery body.
It would also stop any future civil cases and investigations related to killings during the conflict.
Coroners in Northern Ireland are currently working on a calendar of legacy investigations related to the riots, including some covering incidents from 50 years ago.
While many have concluded, several have yet to begin.
The next pre-investigation hearing in Mr. Coney’s case is scheduled for October 20.
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