The naked body of Derry man Gerard Hampson was found in 2008. Police now treating his death murder
Gerard Hampson (53) of Northland Road in the city went missing at the end of 2007.
A search was carried out and his family appealed for information and on January 9, 2008, Mr Hampson’s naked body was found on the shores of Lough Neagh.
At a pre-inquest review, Coroner Joe McCrisken inquired as to progress with the application for PPI usually made where there are sensitive issues relation to security which the police do not want in the public domain.
He was told that the relevant documents had gone from the Chief Constable of the PSNI and were now with the relevant minister.
But no indication had been given when they would be dealt with.
The Coroner said he would adjourn the hearing until November 24 in order to hear the PII application with a view to setting a date for the inquest in early 2021.
The family of Mr Hampson – known to his friends as ‘Shorty’ – have long maintained that their father was the victim of foul play and a pathologist report noted ‘there must be considerable suspicion around his death.’
A report by the police ombudsman was extremely critical of their handling of the case and subsequently eight officers were disciplined.
A 57 year old man arrested by detectives on suspicion of the murder of Michael Gerald Hampson was later released from custody.
The PSNI say the suspect has been freed pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service.
The naked body of the Derry republican – known to his friends as ‘Shorty’ – was found on the shores of Lough Neagh near Toomebridge, in January 2008.
It was recovered six weeks after the family of the Derry man reported the 53-year-old missing.
A pathologist who carried out a post mortem examination on his remains said a possible cause of death was drowning and “there must be considerable suspicion around his death.”
At the time he went missing Mr Hampson was wanted for questioning in connection with a double abduction in Co Westmeath and a shooting in Derry in 2007.
A brother-in-law of the late Sinn Féin leader Martin McGuinness, Marvin Canning, was charged in connection with the episode but the prosecution was later dropped.
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