Family concerned over 'Closed door' hearing in Kieran Doherty death

Lawyers for the family of Real IRA man Kieran Doherty have said they are "deeply concerned" after the state attempted to hold a hearing into his death behind closed doors.

Coroner Brian Sherrard ruled the unusual closed session be allowed after he was told that to disclose details on documents posed a risk to life.

But a later intervention by counsel for the next of kin means further legal discussions are set to take place in an attempt to resolve the differences.

Mr Doherty's body was found dumped in Braehead Road in Londonderry on February 24 2010. The 31-year-old had been stripped and bound before he was shot dead.

The Real IRA claimed responsibility for the attack.

Doherty family lawyer Paul Pierce said: "We have come here today for a further preliminary inquiry on this matter, to be told moments before this was to commence that the Crown Solicitor's Office on behalf of the Secretary of State and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) wanted to go into closed hearing.

"As we have seen, there were three hours of discussion back and forward, much of which we were not involved in at all, but it was only on the basis of our objections to those closed hearings taking place that the matter has resolved itself today; the normal process for the consideration of documents and redactions will be carried out as it normally is.

"We are deeply concerned about the way in which the state is approaching these cases by attempting to have closed session hearings and exclude the next of kin and their legal representatives."

Counsel for the PSNI told Belfast Coroner's Court that disclosing some information could present a risk to life and sought the closed session to discuss the concerns.

But family barrister Fiona Doherty said there had been issues about transparency in the case.

She added: "The tendency to go into closed session we say should normally be resisted unless there is a very good basis and lines of authority for that."

Coroner Mr Sherrard "reluctantly" ruled the hearing go into private session because of concerns the right to life could be endangered.

But the hearing was adjourned to allow further legal discussions.