Decision due shortly on Howard’s application for representation at Arkinson inquest

A convicted child killer and rapist will learn next week if he is to be granted legal aid for an inquest into the death of Arlene Arkinson.
Justice Minister David Ford is due to decide whether to approve funding for Robert Howard to be represented at the hearing to examine the disappearance of the Castlederg teenager.
Howard, who is seen as a crucial witness, has launched judicial review proceedings in a bid to force the authorities to come to a decision.
15-year-old Arlene went missing in August 1994 after a night out at a disco in Bundoran, Co Donegal.
Her body has never been found.
In 2005 Howard, who formerly lived near her home, was acquitted of her killing.
But the jury was unaware that by then he was already serving life for raping and killing another girl from south London.
A long delayed inquest into the circumstances surrounding Arlene’s disappearance is due to begin next April and last for up to nine weeks.
In court yesterday Howard’s legal challenge was put on hold following confirmation of the development.
Mr Justice Treacy was told submissions on the funding issue will be made to the Minister later this week.
Howard has already failed in a previous High Court bid to block the inquest.
His legal team claimed the move was an attempt to undermine the not guilty verdict returned against him in 2005.
They argued that the inquest was being used as a way of reopening issues surrounding the case because the Arkinson family were unhappy with the outcome of the criminal trial.
But in 2011 a judge dismissed his application for a judicial review of the decision to hold a tribunal.