The Attorney General for Northern Ireland (AGNI) has ordered a new inquest into the death of a Fermanagh almost 50 years ago.

Jim Murphy (pictured) was shot dead at his garage in Corraveigha, Derrylin, Fermanagh on April 20, 1974.

Dame Brenda King informed the Presiding Coroner, Mr. Justice Humphreys, on Tuesday, January 15, that in light of submissions made, she was directing a new inquest to be held into Mr. Murphy’s death.

In her direction of a new inquest, Dame King said: “This case is linked to that of Patrick Kelly in which I ordered a new inquest on June 29, 2023 following the publication of a report by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland.

“The Police Ombudsman viewed the murder of Mr. Murphy as one of several precursor events which took place prior to the murder of Mr. Kelly, and was critical of the failure by the police to link these cases.”

Patsy Kelly was murdered in July, 1974, and a Police Ombudsman’s report into the murder of the Trillick Independent Councillor linked suspects in both murders.

The Ombudsman report linked suspects in both murders and several attempted murders in the area to a gang that included serving members of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR).

“The original police investigation into the death of Mr. Murphy was defective in several other respects which were the subject of criticism in a report by the Historical Enquiries Team, and included concerns about the standard of scene preservation, examination and interpretation.”

The campaigning niece of Jim Murphy, Joan Corrigan, submitted new evidence to the Attorney General’s office in June, 2023, and requested a new inquest.

In April, 2023, the Police Ombudsman accepted the case for an investigation into Mr. Murphy’s death.

Whilst their office gave it a high priority for assessment, they said it would not be undertaken until 2027.

Miss Corrigan said: “I am obviously delighted with the Attorney General’s decision as it has always been said that collusion was at the heart of my uncle’s murder.

“It will not bring him back, but April, 2024, will mark the 50th anniversary of his murder, and I can look at his photograph on my wall and know I did as much as I could for his memory.

“He was a civil rights activist who sought truth, justice and equality, as do I, and a new inquest would be an extremely fitting tribute to him.

“The brutality of his murder at the hands of state agents and the failure of the police to investigate his murder, and the murder of other citizens, is harrowing and appalling.

“Whilst I never met Jim, I know his siblings and loved ones suffered a huge loss; huge pain.

“I hope this gives victims’ families some hope for the long-term battle for justice, in spite of the reprehensible amnesty from the Tory Government, which is a further, vicious slap in the face to the bereaved.

“Before approaching the Attorney General, and over these years, I have been helped immensely by the charities, Paper Trail, and the Pat Finucane Centre, and owe them a debt of gratitude.”

Solicitor Niall Murphy, at KRW Law, who was made familiar with the case, said: “We welcome this important decision by the Attorney General to order an inquest into the murder of Jim Murphy.

“It is poignant and sad that it has taken 50 years for official recognition that the original RUC investigation into Jim’s murder was failed and defective.”

Mr. Murphy continued: “These recognised, historical, corrupt failings of the State are compounded in modern times, by the wicked and immoral Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

“The import of this Act means that the expressed direction of the most senior law officer in our jurisdiction will not be complied with, as the Inquest has no hope of concluding by the end of April, 2024.

“Notwithstanding this fact, we remain hopeful that this statute will be declared unlawful, through other legal challenges to it, both domestically and in Strasbourg, and that one day in the future, this inquest will be able to open, and for the first time, consider the appalling facts which surrounded both the murder, and [its] cover-up, of a law-abiding, decent and upstanding member of our community.”

Ciarán MacAirt from the charity, Paper Trail (Legacy Archive Research), said: “This was a killer gang of British soldiers and paramilitaries who murdered and maimed across Fermanagh and Tyrone.

“Their victims were well-known Catholic activists and business people like Jim Murphy and Councillor Kelly. Their attacks intended to strike fear into the local Catholic community.

“The RUC knew who they were, but failed to investigate their heinous crimes at the time, so they were free to kill again, and they did.

“Only for campaigning family members like Miss Corrigan, and Patsy’s son, Patrick Kelly, this terrible State collusion would never see the light of day.”