A CONVICTED child killer and rapist has won permission to challenge the holding of an inquest into the death of another girl he was acquitted of murdering.
Robert Howard was granted leave at Belfast High Court to seek a judicial review of the senior coroner’s decision to examine the disappearance of Arlene Arkinson in 1994. His legal team claims the move involves an attempt to undermine the not guilty verdict.
It claims the inquest is being used to reopen issues surrounding the case because the Arkinson family is unhappy with the outcome of the criminal trial.
Arlene, from Castlederg, Co Tyrone, was aged 15 when she vanished after attending a disco in Bundoran, Co Donegal.
Howard (67), who formerly lived near her home, was charged with her murder but acquitted at trial in 2005. The jury did not know he was already serving life for raping and killing Hanna Williams (14) from south London.
Howard’s lawyers pointed out that the coroner’s stated purpose was to allow Arlene’s death to be registered. It was argued that this could be achieved through an alternative, High Court procedure.
Counsel for the coroner contended that the test of necessity in holding an inquest had been met.
The court also heard that issues about the admissibility of bad character evidence would play a significant part in the case.
With the coroner said to be satisfied that the teenager was dead, it was set out that his obligation was to probe all the circumstances.
Mr Justice Treacy ruled yesterday that it should proceed to a full hearing. A one-day hearing of the issues in the High Court has been listed for November.