Victim 'died from head injuries'

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Robert Hamill died as a result of widespread brain injuries caused by punching, kicking and stamping, the inquiry into his death has been told.

Lead counsel Ashley Underwood QC said the post mortem report revealed Mr Hamill had sustained brain injuries similar to those caused by a car crash.

Robert Hamill died 11 days after being attacked by a loyalist mob in Portadown in April 1997.

Public hearings in the inquiry into his murder began on Monday.

The inquiry will examine allegations that four RUC police officers watched as the 25-year-old was attacked and failed to intervene.

It will also examine whether the police were in any way responsible for Mr Hamill's death, as well as claims that police officers tried to obstruct the investigation into the murder.

The inquiry was established more than four years ago and to date has cost almost £19m.

Since then, lawyers have interviewed more than 230 possible witnesses and gathered over 20,000 documents.

The inquiry team has said it hoped to present its final report to the secretary of state by June next year.