Inquest into Fleming and Doherty deaths adjourned until November

The Coroner in the inquest into the deaths of two Derry men shot dead by the SAS in the grounds of Gransha Hospital on December 6 1984 has said that he has no choice but to adjourn the hearing after this week until November as it is simply 'not ready to go ahead.'

The inquest into the deaths of William Fleming (19) from the Waterside and Daniel Doherty (23) from the Creggan area of the city had begun last month but had been beset by delays and on several occasions the Coroner, Judge Ian Huddleston, had complained about the information flow not being good enough.

After a case management hearing today dealing with what material a potential witness should receive before their evidence the Coroner announced that he hearing was not ready to proceed. 

He said that the 'sad reality' was that it could not continue past this week.

Judge Huddleston said it 'frustrates me that we are in that position'.

He cited one example where after the disclosure of the RUC's Divisional Mobile Support Unit there were a further 28 potential witnesses to be spoken to.

The hearing was told that the witnesses lined up for the rest of this week would be heard 'and then we will adjourn.'

The Coroner said that the next available date to resume would be November 6 and scheduled the rest of that month for the hearing. 

He added that there would be 'no slippage' and if something was supposed to be done by a certain date he wanted it done for that date.

The Judge said that when the courts resume after the summer he wanted 'everything on track to commence on November 6.'

There are three more witnesses scheduled to be heard this week.