Questions over PSNI decision to destroy car used in killings
by Ciarán Barnes & Eamonn Houston
A car used by loyalists in the brutal murder of six Catholics which may have contained crucial forensic evidence has been destroyed by the PSNI.
Relatives of those murdered in the Loughinisland massacre will reveal further information about the vehicle and more details on the killings at a press conference in Belfast today.
They will also comment publicly for the first time on why they felt it necessary to lodge a complaint with the Police Ombudsman about the RUC investigation into the slaughter.
Eamon Byrne, Barney Green, Malcolm Jenkinson, Daniel McCreanor, Patrick O’Hare and Adrian Rogan were murdered by the UVF at the Heights bar, Loughinisland, in June 1994.
The six were watching Ireland play Italy in a World Cup game when the gunmen struck.
Last week it emerged the red Triumph Acclaim used in the murders was provided to the UVF by an RUC informant code-named ‘Mechanic’.
He told his RUC handlers of his role in the killings in August 1994 but was never prosecuted. ‘Mechanic’ repeated his confession in the summer of 1997 during a police debriefing session after the UVF discovered he was an agent, but again he escaped prosecution.
The car was discovered abandoned by the RUC less than 24 hours after the murders on the Listooder Road near Crossgar, Co Down.
A police spokesman last night admitted the vehicle was destroyed, but was unable to say when this occurred.
“At that time all reasonable examinations of the car were undertaken and all forensic samples completed before the vehicle was disposed of,” said the spokeswoman.
“All the families of those murdered in Loughinisland have been kept informed.”
Niall Murphy, the solicitor acting for the Loughinisland families, said a huge amount of questions about the murders remained unanswered.
He said: “The families will for the first time speak publicly about their campaign for truth and justice, whilst also commenting on recent revelations surrounding collusion and the role of informers in the case.
“They will also comment on why they felt it necessary to lodge a Police Ombudsman complaint.”
Last week the PSNI arrested a man and woman form the greater Belfast area in connection with the killings. They were released without charge.
It is believed the arrests came about as a result of information provided to the PSNI by former UVF boss and Special Branch informant Mark Haddock.
The UVF shot Haddock six times on the outskirts of north Belfast two weeks ago. He miraculously survived the attack.
It is understood Haddock gave the PSNI information on the massacre in return for a guarantee that he will be relocated in England under a new identity.
Haddock’s knowledge of Loughinisland stems from his relationship with the police agent ‘Mechanic’ who provided the car used in the killings.
Mechanic is Haddock’s best friend and godfather to his daughter.
A total of eight people have been arrested in connection with the Loughinisland murders. No one has been charged.
