Murder and MI5: How an extraordinary battle erupted over what the state keeps secret
Summary
An unresolved murder in Belfast from 1994 involving loyalist paramilitaries is at the center of a legal battle over the release of secret information. The family of the victim, Paul Thompson, believes state agents may have been involved in the killing, and they are fighting a policy that restricts the release of national security information. The case reached the UK Supreme Court to determine who has the authority to decide what information can remain secret.Key Facts
- In April 1994, Paul Thompson was shot and killed by loyalist paramilitaries in Belfast.
- The group responsible was the Ulster Defence Association, using the name Ulster Freedom Fighters.
- A hole in a boundary called the 'Peace Line' allowed the attackers to escape.
- An inquest into the murder started in 1995 but never concluded, and no one has been arrested.
- The family suspects collusion between British security forces and the killers.
- In 2024, a coroner decided to release a summary of secret information about the case to the family.
- The British government and MI5 opposed this release, claiming national security concerns.
- The case went to the UK Supreme Court to decide on the power to release such information.
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