Riot inquest may call Sir Ronnie

Sir Ronnie Flanagan may have to give evidence at the inquest

Former chief constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan may be called to give evidence at the inquest into the death of a man during rioting in Londonderry in 1996.

Dermot McShane, 36, a former INLA man, was killed when he was run over by an Army vehicle during some of the worst public disorder ever seen in Derry.

The trouble flared after Orangemen walked down Portadown's Garvaghy Road.

Sir Ronnie may be called to clarify whether the police had intelligence that violence was planned in Derry.

At the opening of the inquest into Mr McShane's death, coroner Brian Sherrard was told Sir Ronnie Flanagan allegedly told the Helsinki Human Rights Watch group the police had specific intelligence of what was to happen in Derry that week in July 1996.

However, a barrister for the police said the historical inquiries team reported there was no intelligence available.

Later, the inquest was told that during the week of Mr McShane's death 946 baton rounds were fired by the security forces in Derry and 1,200 petrol bombs were thrown by rioters.

Television footage of the Army personnel carrier crashing into a large wooden hoarding which Mr McShane had been using as a shield during rioting in Little James' Street on July 13, 1996, was shown to the jury.

The coroner told the jury it had to consider the general circumstances which pertained to Mr McShane's death and what was happening in the city at the time.

They should also consider if precautions could have been taken to prevent the death, the role of Mr McShane and of the police and army, and whether there were any security force defects in dealing with the civil unrest at the time of Mr McShane's death, he said.

The inquest at Bishop Street courthouse is scheduled to last at least three weeks and is to hear evidence from 46 military, police and civilian witnesses.

It will continue on Wednesday.

Sir Ronnie Flanagan was appointed Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary in 2005.