The family of a student who died in Germany has welcomed a new inquest into his death.
Dates for the inquest into the death of 22-year-old Jeremiah Duggan, from Golders Green, has been set for March 17, 18 and 19 next year.
Jeremiah, a 22-year-old student at the Sorbonne in Paris, was found dead by the side of a motorway in Wiesbaden in Germany on March 27, 2003.
He had been attending what he believed was a protest against the Iraq war, which turned out to be a youth event organised by the extremist right wing LaRouche group.
An hour before his body was discovered, Mr Duggan had phoned his mother saying his life was in danger.
Speaking at a pre-inquest review this morning at North London Coroners Court, Jeremiah’s mother Erica said the inquest was of great public interest.
She said: “What has come out of the last 11 years is that there’s a danger that in a way has not been looked at, and an unwillingness to look at this danger. Jeremiah was innocent and became a victim of this danger. People don’t realise the threat.
“It’s a very relevant and important inquest that you will be holding. The process we will go through, with your help and experience at looking into, might move us forward to safeguard people’s lives. I am talking about what in France is called mental manipulation, and subjugation of the individual.”
Speaking about LaRouche, she said: “He was different to the other members. They were trying to recruit him. They don’t like criticism.”
Coroner Andrew Walker said: “There’s no doubt in my mind we need to proceed. At this stage it appears the evidence can be assembled.”
Mr Walker said that the inquest was not an opportunity to investigate LaRouche’s behaviour, as it was about the events leading up to his death.
He added: “It’s my ardent hope we have everything in place so when we sit down to hear this inquest we can reach a conclusion and the family then have a chance to move on.”
Speaking afterwards, Ms Duggan said: “There’s a silence which has been made to carry on. It’s a good thing to have it. My view is there’s been no investigation carried out in Germany. The time has come to expose the danger.”
Jeremiah’s father Hugo Duggan welcomed the inquest.
He said: “I am happy they have decided to go ahead. We will try and get a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding his suspicious death. After 11 years – it will be 12 in March – we will hope to finally get on with our lives and put an end to this state of limbo.”
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