Undercover Policing Inquiry - update

Prior to Christmas 2019 we were instructed by Richard Chessum to act for him in the Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI). He had already secured core participant status in December 2017. We have now been designated as his legal representative.

Richardwas an activist in the Troops Out Movement (TOM) which was formed in 1973 following the attacks by the British soldierson the minority Catholic/Nationalist population. TOM set out with its major aimto secure the withdrawal of British troops from Northern Ireland andself-determination for the Irish people as a whole.

Linkedto that central demand were calls for the demilitarisation of the local policeand paramilitary police support – the B specials - as well as opposition to UKGovernment policies that set effectively set in law discrimination againstCatholic people in areas such as elections, housing, education, culturalpursuits, jobs and social welfare.

Richard was spied on by undercover police from the Special Demonstration Squad. He was targeted by an officer called ‘Rick Gibson’ who had targeted Richard, TOM and the socialist group ‘Big Flame.’

TheUCPI is due to open on the 1^st June 2020 where legal representativesfrom many of the 200 core participants are due to provide opening statements.This will then be followed by core participants providing witness evidence tothe Inquiry.