26 Feb Press Release: Murder of Caroline Moreland
We act on behalf of the family of Caroline Moreland who was killed by PIRA ISU in 1994.
The family were in attendance in the High Court today to hear a legal challenge against the Secretary of State in relation to the need for a public inquiry into their mother’s murder.
The case formed part of a wider group of killings looked at by Operation Kenova, the independent policing agency investigating the criminal activities of the alleged agent known as “Stakeknife”.
The application focused on the failure to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding the 1994 killing. Integral to the challenge is the need to address allegations of much wider systemic State failings to investigate all ISU killings over a 15-year period from 1979-1994.
Speaking outside court today KRW LAW Conflict Litigation Consultant Kevin Winters said,
“We were told last year that the Government hadn’t yet made any decision on whether or not to hold a public inquiry into PIRA ISU. We don’t believe the next of kin ought to wait to see if an inquiry will be announced until after the publication of the final Kenova Report.
The argument made against us is that a decision hadn’t yet been made on whether or not to hold an inquiry and therefore the challenge is premature. Today’s case was important because it helped bring to a head as to when such decision should be made.
The work of Operation Kenova revealed that state penetration of the ISU extended way beyond the alleged agent Stakeknife, Freddie Scappaticci. Operation Kenova confirmed to the Moreland family that the agent Stakeknife, Freddie Scappaticci was not involved in the murder of Caroline Moreland, yet the circumstances surrounding the murder remained within the terms of reference of the Operation Kenova investigation.
Therefore, we hope to see the outcome of the outstanding matters cited in court today in addressing this wider sensitive thematic issue.
Today’s case has helped bring much needed clarity on the current position of the Secretary of State. We are hopeful that whatever the outcome of today’s application, either way we will get clarity on the State’s attitude to an inquiry.”