There are two BBC news items on the killing of Rosemary Nelson that are accessible online:  "Bomb kills Northern Ireland lawyer " and   "A mindless attack on peace"

Like Patrick Finucane, she was well known for her defence of individuals detained under emergency legislation. She had taken on a variety of high-profile cases. She represented Colin Duffy, accused of the murders of two police officers. She had also represented the family of Robert Hamill, who was kicked to death in Portadown; there are claims  that Mr. Hamill was killed by a loyalist mob while armed RUC officers nearby did nothing to prevent it.

She had alleged repeated harassment by the RUC; her clients are said to have received warnings that she would be killed: The Guardian of 16 March 1999 reports one client having been told by an officer of the RUC that she would be murdered because she was a "Provo-loving Fenian bitch."

She had spoken out of behalf of her clients in the Garvaghy Road area of Portadown, claiming that they had been subjected to violence and intimidation since a Protestant Orange Order march had been rerouted away from that part. The very day of her murder she had complained about the failure of the police to uphold the rule of law in protecting her clients.

Amnesty International noted that the UN Special Rapporteur wrote in his report on justice in Northern Ireland: "Where there is a threat to the physical integrity of a solicitor or barrister, irrespective from whom the threat emanates, the Government should provide the necesssary  protection and should vigorously investigate the threats and bring to justice the guilty party". Amnesty also commented "Had these recommendations been promptly implemented, this tragedy might have been averted."

For a short biography of Rosemary Nelson by Human Rights Watch, please click here.
 

There is a great deal of background information available on the web. Please click here to see a list of some of the links.

To send a message to Amnesty International, Group 60, please click here.

To return to A.I. Group 60's page on justice in Northern Ireland, please click here.

To go to A.I. Group 60's main page, please click here.