Inquest to be held into Real IRA murder of drug dealer Kieran Doherty

AN inquest into the Real IRA murder of a drug dealer over four years ago is due to get underway today.

Kieran Doherty (31) was found shot dead at Braehead Road, Derry on the outskirts of the city on 24 February, 2010.

The father of one from the Brandywell area was stripped and bound before he was shot dead.

Dissident republican group, the Real IRA, claimed responsibility for the abduction and killing.

It claimed the former republican prisoner had been one of its members and had admitted his involvement in a €500,000 cannabis factory uncovered by gardai in Donegal the previous month.

The dead man’s family have strongly denied he was involved in the drugs trade.

His family alleged that MI5 tried to recruit him as an informant.

A preliminary hearing in the inquest into the killing is due to get underway today in Belfast.

Last year there was furore when it was revealed that Doherty’s family received compensation for his murder.