Coroner still waiting for Irish authorities' information

An inquest into the murder of a Real IRA man cannot move forward until information is received from authorities in the Republic of Ireland, a coroner has said.

The body of Kieran Doherty, 31, was found dumped on the Braehead Road, Londonderry, on 24 February 2010.

At a pre-inquest hearing on Monday, the Coroner's Court was told information had been sought from both Gardaí (Irish police) and the Chief State Solicitor's Office (CSSO).

Counsel for the coroner told the hearing a response from the Gardai was now “at an advanced stage”.

She added that there had been a “steady progression” in engagement with the CSSO but that a timescale on when the information might be received could not be provided.

Kieran Doherty was kidnapped by members of his own organisation in Derry in 2010.

He was stripped, bound and shot dead before his body was dumped on the outskirts of the city, close to the Irish border.

The dissident republican group, the Real IRA, claimed responsibility for the attack.

In March 2023, a previous preliminary hearing was told information had been asked from Irish authorities but that no relevant information had been received.

On Monday, coroner Brian Sherrard said he was conscious of the “need to work closely with authorities in the Republic”, adding there was also a “complexity” to the issue.

The next hearing is due to take place on 17 June.