May 8 marks the first anniversary of the death of Robert Hamill, a Portadown man who was assaulted as he returned home on April 27 with three companions. He died from his injuries on May 8 1997. Four RUC officers who witnessed the attack refused to intervene. They have not been suspended despite calls from the Hamill family. The Pat Finucane Centre is posting a fact file on the case that was compiled by British Irish Rights Watch, a London based human rights organisation. The fact file (see New Items) is based on two reports submitted to the United Nations, in August 1997 and May 1998. We wish to thank Rights Watch and the Hamill family for permission to post this fact file which raises extremely serious issues about the administration of justice. We take responsibility for posting the two reports.

At present the Hamill hope to pursue a private prosecution. Funds are needed to do so and donations can be made to the Bank of Ireland, Robert Hamill Justice Fund, Sorting Code 902354, Account Nr 26672139, Portadown, N.Ireland