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| Hamill witness faces legal action | Hamill witness faces legal action |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A woman who failed to appear before the Robert Hamill Inquiry has been reported to the High Court. | A woman who failed to appear before the Robert Hamill Inquiry has been reported to the High Court. |
| Tracey Clarke, who was once engaged to a man suspected of Mr Hamill's murder, told the inquiry she was unable to attend for medical reasons. | Tracey Clarke, who was once engaged to a man suspected of Mr Hamill's murder, told the inquiry she was unable to attend for medical reasons. |
| However, the inquiry said she had not submitted any medical evidence despite being given eight weeks to do so. | However, the inquiry said she had not submitted any medical evidence despite being given eight weeks to do so. |
| Mr Hamill died after he was attacked by a loyalist mob in Portadown in 1997. | Mr Hamill died after he was attacked by a loyalist mob in Portadown in 1997. |
| Ms Clarke failed to give evidence at an oral hearing on 28th January after the inquiry chairman Sir Edwin Jowitt issued a legal notice compelling her to attend. | Ms Clarke failed to give evidence at an oral hearing on 28th January after the inquiry chairman Sir Edwin Jowitt issued a legal notice compelling her to attend. |
| The High Court could now start civil enforcement proceedings against Ms Clarke. Ultimately she could be prosecuted for contempt of court. | The High Court could now start civil enforcement proceedings against Ms Clarke. Ultimately she could be prosecuted for contempt of court. |
| A spokesperson for the inquiry said: "The inquiry regards Ms Clarke as a very important witness." | A spokesperson for the inquiry said: "The inquiry regards Ms Clarke as a very important witness." |
| Ms Clarke gave information to the police in 1998 which led to the arrests of several people in connection with Mr Hamill's murder. | |
| The inquiry has heard Ms Clarke knew who was involved in the attack, including Allister Hanvey who was at the time her boyfriend and later became her fiance. | |
| She also claimed Mr Hanvey was receiving updates on the murder investigation from a police officer. | |
| During the investigation into the murder Ms Clarke told the Director of Public Prosecutions that she would not give evidence in a criminal trial against any of the accused. | |
| Mr Hanvey has appeared before the inquiry and denied involvement in Mr Hamill's murder. |