'I am satisfied that Sean Hegarty should not have been released at 2.47pm on December 9'
The actions of police in releasing a violent offender contributed to the deaths of two people who were beaten to death in Belfast, a coroner ruled today.
Outlining the background to the case, Mr McCrisken said that Hegarty was a violent offender with more than 70 previous convictions. Mr McCrisken told the inquest: “I am satisfied that Sean Hegarty should not have been released at 2:47pm on December 9. He had been bailed by a court to live at Ms Smyth’s address. That address had been withdrawn.
“If Sean Hegarty had been brought before a court on December 10 for breach of bail, he may well have been remanded into custody, thereby denying him the opportunities to commit the murders on December 12. “Sean Hegarty had a history of violence but nothing in his background could have led anyone to a firm conclusion he was capable of double murder.
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