Family calls for 999 recordings release

Andrew’s brother David told the ‘MAIL’ inconsistencies in statements linked to the call must be ironed out and he has asked for copies of the actual call.

Andrew Lorimer was found dead in his Lurgan flat in February 2012 after suffering a savage beating. In November, two of his killers were jailed for five years, while a third man was jailed for four.

The assailants rang police after the attack and told them to look for a man who had been beaten up at Portlec Place, where Mr Lorimer’s flat was.

Police checked the area but did not find anything untoward. Mr Lorimer’s remains were found some time later by a burglar.

Mr Lorimer was speaking after meetings with the Ombudsman and the PSNI which the family believe have raised more questions.

They are still confused after the judge had clearly stated during his judgement that the 999 call mentioned paramilitaries, however, the Police Ombudsman states that having listened to the 999 call, no mention of paramilitary was made.

David told the ‘MAIL’: “There is something sinister going on in the background. We are a normal family. What is going on? How can the Police Ombudsman say one thing and the judge another?”

“We are not hearing the truth. We did not get justice and now we are not getting the truth.”

Upper Bann Ulster Unionist MLA Jo-Anne Dobson is backing the family’s campaign and has requested the recordings of the 999 call, plus she has forwarded a number of Freedom of Information requests to the PSNI, the Police Ombudsman and the Justice Department.

David said he was asked if he wanted an inquest into his brother’s death and had requested one. However the family are disturbed that an inquest has now been denied.

Mrs Dobson said: “We need honesty, openness and transparency.”

A spokeswoman for the Lord Chief Justice explained that Coroners Service had asked the PSNI family liaison officer to speak to the Lorimer family “to seek their views on whether they wanted an inquest”.

“The reply was that the family did want an inquest,” she said.

“However, the senior coroner listened to the recording of the sentencing hearing and concluded that there was sufficient information provided to the Crown Court about how, when and why Mr Lorimer died and that an inquest was not necessary.”