Special Branch agent involved in assassination outside school, inquest told

Published on Monday 18 August 2008 21:40

A SPECIAL Branch agent was involved in the shooting of a man by republicans outside a school in Northern Ireland, an inquest heard yesterday.

The death of Kevin McAlorum, 31, near Belfast in June 2004 could have been avoided, his family claimed. The Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) was blamed after the father of two was ambushed in his car outside Oakwood Integrated Primary School in Derriaghy, Co Antrim. A lawyer, Sean Patterson, told the adjourned hearing in Belfast that the victim's brother, Brian McGuinness, had raised serious concerns with him.

"An intelligence report held by the police shows that this matter was avoidable, and it is his understanding that this would show the involvement of an informer he believes to be protected or known by Special Branch," he said.

The former investigating officer, Detective Superintendent Roy McComb, of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, denied any knowledge of the intelligence dossier.

Mr McAlorum, a construction worker from Lisburn, suffered at least five bullet wounds after his car was rammed by a white van as it left the school, having dropped off his children.

The van driver sprayed the windscreen with shots as onlookers dived for cover.

The hearing was adjourned to allow the matter to be further investigated.