TODAY marks the 29th anniversary of the murder of Cwmbran private detective Daniel Morgan – but the truth of how he met his death still remains a mystery.
The 37-year-old had allegedly been investigating claims of corruption within the Metropolitan Police when his body was found in the car park of a south London pub with an axe lodged in his head on March 10, 1987.
Almost three decades on the crime remains unsolved despite a series of police inquiries and a tireless campaign by the family of the father-of-two to reach the truth. It has been claimed the same alleged corruption Mr Morgan was investigating when he died has prevented his killer from being brought to justice.
Scotland Yard has reiterated a refusal to release an internal report into alleged police corruption.
Today the Argus labels the situation a national disgrace.
Last week Newport West MP Paul Flynn, who took up the seat he still holds today just three months after Mr Morgan was murdered, said he had been allowed to see a copy of the Tiberius report last year and called it “the most deeply shocking document I have read in my life”.
Addressing justice secretary Chris Grayling in Parliament the Labour MP called for the report to be released publicly, saying: “Will the government publish it — perhaps next Thursday — so that the whole country can understand the breadth and depth of police corruption in this city?”
Mr Grayling replied “I will ensure that the Home Secretary is aware of the honourable gentleman’s concerns. I am not aware of the detail of the report, but I will make sure that she responds to his request.”
But a Scotland Yard spokesman said yesterday: “We are not prepared to discuss publicly the details of Operation Tiberius, produced in 2002.
“By its very nature it is a secret document that details the threat of corruption to police employees posed by serious and organised criminals.
“The passage of time does nothing to reduce the very real risks to anti-corruption tactics, intelligence sources or current operations.
“This is not about refusing to be transparent but protecting life.
“The nature of corruption within the MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) has changed over the last decade.
“We are determined, for the good of Londoners and the honest hard working men and women of the MPS to do all we can to tackle current corrupt staff.”
In 2014 the Independent newspaper claimed it had been leaked a copy of the report and reported it said more than 40 serving officers had helped criminals evade justice.
Although five people were arrested in connection with the murder in 2008, the trial collapsed in 2011 after evidence was found to be unreliable.
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