MP Doherty lambasts Gardai as "disgraceful"

The West Tyrone MP says Irish police are to blame for delaying the inquest into the murder of Castlederg teenager Arlene Arkinson.

The failure of An Garda Siochana "to produce documents or nominate witnesses" has delayed the inquest into the murder of Arlene Arkinson, that's according to West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty.

He's branded the force's failure as "disgraceful" saying it's "shocking" that further delays have been added to proceedings into the teenagers death.

"The Arkinson family has been waiting over 20 years on this inquest and it's shocking that proceedings have yet again been delayed," he said.

"It is unacceptable that An Garda Siochana are further adding to the anguish of the Arkinson family by yet again withholding information from the coroner," he added. 

Underlining the importance of there being "full disclosure" to on-going proceedings, the Sinn Fein representative says gardai now need to act quickly to spare the Arkinson family any additional delays.

"It is important the inquest proceeds with full disclosure so the family can begin to get to the truth - they need to come back to the court as soon as possible with the relevant information that the inquest can be completed," he said.