Following Rosemary Nelson's murder, concerns were expressed that local people were unwilling to cooperate with any inquiry that involved the RUC. There were fears that potentially important information would be lost as time went on. As a result the Pat Finucane Centre was asked to take statements. On three occasions volunteers were present in order to record statements. Leaflets and posters alerted the community in North Lurgan beforehand and it was stressed that this was not intended to be a substitute in any way for an investigation. Legal counsel was present on each occasion. We decided not to approach anyone but to allow local people to voluntarily approach us. In all, fifty two individuals provided statements. This was a considerable response in our view given that this was no door to door exercise but one that depended completely on individuals taking the decision to come to us.
The guidelines for taking statements were:
The following should be borne in mind when reading through this synopsis of the statements. These are the views of people in the local community. This then is their experience of the days and weeks leading up to the murder.
The references refer to individual statements; 25A for example refers to statement 25 page A, RN refers to Rosemary Nelson's house, PFC to Pat Finucane Centre RIR to members of the locally recuited British Army regiment the Royal Irish Regiment.
2-3 months previous to death -- Marked increase in security presence in area, RIR and RUC, jeep and foot patrols. Regular presence in fields along Castor's Bay Road and around Tannaghmore Primary School. Numerous checkpoints and P (personnel) Checks. 25A
Patrols being dropped off by helicopter in nearby fields in February/March. 26A
4 weeks prior to death approx. -- 10.00pm -- Strong searchlight sweeping fields close to RN's house. S7A
3 weeks prior to death -- RUC and RIR on Lough Road near junction with Annesborough Road. No checkpoint, but about 4 army vehicles and one RUC. Two civilian cars were parked among the landrovers. About 6 personnel on the road, more in vehicles. Seemed strange "as if the RUC and army were giving cover to the men with the civilian cars." 9C
During 3 weeks prior to death approx. -- Regular helicopter landings. Hovered about overhead and then landed in Jim McCann's field -- 8.30am -- "this hasn't happened before". 31A [PFC - this is the same field as referred to in statement above Re. searchlight 7A.]
3 weeks prior -- Heavy security in North Lurgan area. 10A
2 weeks prior approx. -- Heavy "unusual" security around Mile House area. Vehicle checkpoints between 11.30am and 12.00 noon. 9B
2 weeks prior approx. -- 9.30am -- Checkpoint on Shore Road. 12A
2 weeks prior approx. -- Troops dropped by helicopter near RN's house. Witness also recalls discussion with Rosemary Nelson in her office at this time where Rosemary spoke of the security presence around her house -- RUC & RIR. 6A
2 weeks prior -- Helicopters regularly landing in fields. Witness had strong impression that troops were being dropped off. 24A
1 week prior approx. -- RIR and RUC getting into field at a gate near Mile House. 8-10 soldiers, no vehicles. 9B Heavy RUC activity in area. 14A
March 9 -- 11.00am-12.00pm -- Helicopter landing several times near Aghagallon. Given the short times between take offs and landings witness presumed troops were being airlifted from Mahon Road Army base in Portadown. 26B
March 12 -- 4.00pm approx. -- High security activity. RUC checkpoint on Victoria Street, at Victoria Junction. Two British Army landrovers at Annesborough Industrial Estate heading towards Mile House. 16A
March 13-14 -- Area saturated with Security Forces. 39A
12 noon -- RIR and RUC patrols. English accent noted suggesting British Army presence. Vehicle checkpoints set up. 28A
Three army landrovers in carpark off William Street, [approx 100yds from RN's office] Considerable army activity throughout the day. Witness had impression that soldiers were being dropped by helicopter in Fox's Field near Mile House. 16A
6.00pm approx. -- Helicopter above Kilwilke estate. Still there at midnight. 5A
7.15pm -- Helicopter low over area. Still there 10.30pm. 38A
RUC landrovers speeding up Lake Street. RIR present in estate for three days prior. Witness noticed RIR because "they hadn't been in the area for a while and because there was no trouble in the area". 37A
7.15pm -- Helicopter observed above area. Still there at 10.30pm. 38A
12 midnight -- Helicopter above Kilwilke. 5A
10.45am -- Helicopter observed above Ashgrove area as people go to mass. 16B
11.50am -- Helicopter observed circling area. Stayed up all day hovering and sometimes swooping down. Witness noted how low helicopter was to ground. Had red light on at night. [PFC -- other accounts refer to a green light] 18A
RIR checkpoint in Edward Street, stopping only traffic leaving town. 14A
Heavy security force presence around Tannaghmore School and surrounding area, both RUC and RIR. 24A
Heavy security presence in area and field opposite bottom of RN's street. Helicopter dropping troops in field throughout the day [Fox's Field]. 21A
Witness couldn't sleep in the afternoon because of noise from helicopter. 37A
4.30pm -- Helicopter hovering over Shore Road area. Still there at 5.30, 6.15, 7.15 and 10.00pm. At 7.15pm two RUC landrovers driving in the direction of Tannaghmore Primary School. 10A
5.00pm -- Lynx helicopter hovering very low over fields behind Tannaghmore School. Unusual because Gazelle normally used. Lynx had heli-tele attached. Hovered very low for 90-120 minutes. 29B/C
5.30pm approx. -- RUC and RIR checkpoint noted between Lurgan roundabout at the M1 exit and Tannaghmore Hill. In addition to the checkpoint a number of military landrovers were parked near the Mile House facing into town. 39A
5.30pm approx. -- 5 landrovers on Lake Street turning into Victoria Street, coming from the direction of RN's home. Helicopter hovering over area for at least two hours. 3A
5.30 approx.-11.00pm -- Helicopter flying very low in area over Tannaghmore School/North Circular Road. 9B
From 6.00pm -- Troops dropped in Fox's Field near RNs house. Helicopter above Ashgrove Close until "early hours of the morning". 39A
from 6.00pm -- Helicopter in area until "a way after 12 midnight". 24A
6.30pm -- Helicopter hovering over area. Still there at 11.00pm. 30A
6.45pm -- Helicopter over Tannaghmore PS. RUC landrover near school, just past Ashford Park and North Circular Road. Two RIR landrovers on North Circular Road, close to junction with Lake Street, no checkpoint. 11A
7.00pm -- Helicopter over Ashgrove Park area. 12A
7.00pm -- Helicopter very low over area. Witness notes that the helicopter so low, thought "it would land on the houses". There all night. 32A
Just after 7.00pm -- 3 RUC landrovers on left hand side of Lake Street, one on right, spotlights shining towards Levin Road. Children throwing stones. Landrover on left hand side of Victoria Street, around 171-175. 2B
7.15pm -- Helicopter over area. Still there at midnight. 38A
7.30pm -- Helicopter very low over area. Helicopter was using an image intensifier, a red light, "tilting…moving backwards and forwards…seemed to be looking for something on the ground". RUC/ military checkpoint also noted near junction of North St and Lake St. 47A 7.30pm -- 4 RUC jeeps on Lake Street, another on Victoria Street. One of the four shining light into Kilwilke estate. Kids throwing stones. 1A
8.00pm approx. -- Two RUC landrovers on Lough Road. 16B
10.30pm -- Helicopter over Ashgrove Park. 28A
10.30pm -- Green light noticed coming from helicopter that had been hovering around Tannaghmore School all evening. RUC vehicles about and helicopter up all weekend. 2B
10.30pm -- Witness notes a bright green light directed at area of Lake Street/Shore Road. Witness states that "if it were not for the sound of the helicopter I would have mistaken it for a star." 1B
11.30pm -- Vehicle checkpoints on both sides of Church Place, covering the entrance/exit routes from North Street, William Street, and Edward Street. 51A
12.00am approx. -- Helicopter observed above Ashgrove area. 16B
Helicopter up all night. 33A
Helicopter flying over Kilwilke Estate "all night". 15A
RUC presence throughout the evening. 1B
Helicopter up until at least 2.30am. 5A
6.00am -- Helicopter heard in area by mother feeding her baby. 19A
7.30am approx. -- Convoy of army landrovers on Edward Street heading towards, then entering Lurgan RUC station. 13A
8.00am approx. -- RIR patrol on Shore Road. RUC landrover at a house on Kilwilke Road for about 20 minutes. 15A
9.05am -- Two RIR landrovers parked on Castor Bay Road 'past the Mile House facing towards school'. [PFC -- Tannaghmore PS] 11A
9.20am -- Several RUC and Army patrols noted on North Circular Road on way to Melrose Grove. 1 RUC and 2 Soldiers on Railway Bridge at Kilmaine Street. Witness noticed soldiers looking through binoculars toward Kilwilke Estate. 48A
10.00am -- RIR foot patrol at railway junction on Lake Street. Witness saw 2 RIR on left-hand side of the tracks and noticed one RIR place something into another's rucksack. 4C
10.00am -- Landrovers in Kilwilke, witness says they "stopped all of a sudden" at the gates at Lake Street, the railway barriers. 33A
10.00am -- RUC just past railway junction, Lake Street. Some in landrovers, some outside of vehicles. 32A
10.00am -- Witness stopped at railway crossing on Lake Street to allow 10.00 train to pass. First car in line, noticed RIR foot patrol or British army on opposite side. 41A
10.00am -- Witnesses in taxi waiting to cross tracks. Notice an RUC and RIR foot patrol of approximately 7 or 8 men on the other side of the railway crossing. Notices a soldier pick up something from behind railway control box and hand it to another. 6B/4C
10.00am -- RIR patrol at railway crossing on Lake Street. One RIR took object out of hedge - about 7-12 inches long in a white plastic bag. Placed it in another soldier's rucksack. 8A
10.00am -- RIR removed aerosol can with wires attached from behind railway control box and tells civilian that it's a 'suspect device'. Witness regarded the incident as suspicious as area was not sealed off as is normal procedure. 4D
10.00-11.00am -- RIR mobile patrols in 2 landrovers in the area of Kilwilke Road, Lake Street and Victoria Street. 29C
10.05am -- Officers dressed in boiler suits waiting beside land rovers in the parking area inside Lurgan RUC barracks. Witness noticed one officer in particular and remembered him being at the scene of the murder later in the day. Also notices a red dog van with handler. 15A
10.30am -- RUC landrover parked at Cornakinnegar Road at the junction with North Circular Road. Patrol then drove down the Cornakinnegar Road. This witness also reported four RUC landrovers in Kilwilke, at times together, at times in patrols of two. 11B
11.15-11.20am -- Witness walking with two other people down Old Portadown Road. Near Gilpinstown, two RUC landrovers pull alongside them. Four RUC men got out of the first landrover and blocked pathway. Witness says two friends stopped, but witness did not. RUC in second jeep get out and asked witness to stop. Witness notices the RUC officers wearing boiler suits. Witness p-checked and given a full body search. Witness says officer verbally abused one of friends. Threats and derogatory comments shouted at all three as they walked away. 8A, 4C, 6E/F
12.40pm approx. -- Heard explosion, 12.50pm approx. saw RUC and fire engine, 1.10pm went to scene. Saw RIR man 'sniggering'. Same RUC present (again in boiler suits) that had stopped and searched him earlier on Old Portadown Road. 6E/F
12.45 approx. -- One of the first witnesses on the scene described the situation minutes after the bomb exploded. Frantic calls for an ambulance and then a doctor. A nurse arrived on the scene. A doctor who had been phoned arrived followed directly by an ambulance. An RUC car then drew up "very slowly…almost non chalantly." Two officers got out and walked "without any haste" towards the bomb scene. 48A
1.00pm -- RIR had bomb scene sealed off. 2 RUC landrovers arrived (the landrovers that had been on the Old Portadown Rd earlier). RUC 'smirking'. Landrovers had arrived from Kilwilke direction. 4D
1.00pm -- RUC/RIR 'laughing and smirking' at bomb scene. MSU (riot squad) present. Taunts about RN. 29C/D
1.00pm approx. -- End of North Circular Road sealed off by British Army. RUC arriving. Helicopter overhead. 1B
RUC in "jovial mood which changed to aggressive when dealing with the public" at scene of bomb. Two Scottish soldiers heard laughing loudly. 16C
Soldier with English accent laughing at bomb scene. 18A
After explosion -- 2 army landrovers on Lake Street. Soldiers "grinning from ear to ear and laughing." 48F
3.10pm -- Confirmation comes through that Rosemary Nelson has died from her injuries.
3.20pm -- Some members of the security forces in "jubilant, jovial, almost celebratory mood." 21A
Evening -- RIR patrol on Lake Street/Shore Road. Offensive comments shouted about RN. 26A
Explanatory Footnotes
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Introduction