The Dundalk Democrat, 8 November 2003:

Inquest could be next January

By Anne-Marie Eaton

County Coroner, Ronan Maguire, said this week that he hopes to hold the second inquest into Seamus Ludlow’s death in the near future.

Delays have been incurred in receiving relevant information, but Mr Maguire has stated that he is still waiting on a particular investigative report on the murder and a definitive explanation on the whereabouts of Seamus Ludlow’s clothing and the bullets used. 

“I am still trying to trace the clothes although it is possible that they may have been destroyed, and I am still trying to locate the bullets and ascertain whether they are still in the possession of the Gardai. I would have thought they should be.”

Seamus’ nephew, Jimmy Sharkey, has said previously that he understands two of the three bullets used in his uncle’s murder were sent to Northern Ireland for forensic examination, with one remaining in the South. He added that Seamus’ clothes were never returned to the family.

Photographs from the murder scene which had been lost, have since been found and given to the coroner. Ballistic reports have also been located. 

Mr Maguire said he wants to hear the second inquest straight through and does not want to see it adjourned.

“I am not going to open and adjourn it. It will go ahead with as much information as I can get and I will hear it completely.”

Retired state pathologist, Dr John Harbison, who gave a deposition at the original inquest has said he will attend the new hearing. 

The County coroner said the original inquest had not heard from too many people.

“Looking through the inquest file, there were only two other witnesses who were there for the purposes of identification. Obviously they were not family members as they had not been contacted.

“There are also a number of files from people who saw Seamus Ludlow in Dundalk on the night he was murdered.

 The inquest could go ahead before Christmas, depending on the family’s feelings. “Sometimes the families of the deceased do not want an inquest just before Christmas and if this is the case then I could be ready to go ahead with the inquest in early January.”