‘PROTECTING THE KILLERS’
No forensic tests carried out on 177 items - Families of six Catholics murdered in Down pub by Ulster Volunteer Force 12 years ago say it’s clear the RUC colluded with gang responsible for the slaughter
Ciarán Barnes
The families of six Catholics murdered in a Co Down pub by loyalists 12-years ago have accused police of protecting those involved in the killings.
At a press conference in Belfast yesterday, relatives of those who died in the Loughinisland massacre said it was clear the RUC had colluded with the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) gang responsible for the slaughter.
Their statement came on the back of a series of Daily Ireland stories that revealed the car used in the murders, which was provided by an RUC informant, was later crushed by police preventing the recovery of crucial forensic evidence.
Eamon Byrne, Barney Green, Malcolm Jenkinson, Daniel McCreanor, Patrick O’Hare and Adrian Rogan died in the attack on the Heights bar in June 1994. The six were watching Ireland play Italy in a World Cup game when the gunmen struck.
Niall Murphy, a solicitor for the Loughinisland families, told the packed press conference that a Czech-made rifle used in the killings was part of a South African weapons consignment brought into the North by British army agent Brian Nelson.
The security services knew of the arms importation but failed to prevent it reaching these shores.
It was revealed that the police refused to carry out DNA tests on 177 items connected with the investigation until 2005, and that the PSNI continue to deny the families access to the ballistic history of the weapons used.
It also emerged the PSNI is still refusing to reveal whether any of the suspects or the eight people questioned about the attack have been used for intelligence purposes.
Mr Murphy said the launch of the families’ campaign for a proper police investigation was born out of frustration at the stagnation in the murder investigation. He also expressed astonishment that the getaway car used in the attack was destroyed.
“I can think of no reasonable reason why any police officer would destroy such an exhibit, which must have contained a wealth of evidential product,” he said.
“Certainly I have my suspicions as to why it was destroyed. That the car was destroyed in itself creates inherent suspicion.”
Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan is currently investigating the families concerns about the RUC/PSNI investigation.
The killings will also feature in a soon to be published Police Ombudsman report into allegations of collusion between Special Branch detectives and a UVF gang based in the loyalist Mount Vernon estate in north Belfast.
Emma Rogan, who was eight when her 34-year-old father Adrian was shot dead in the attack, said: “We want to know how high does this collusion go.
“Six innocent men who did not do anybody wrong in their lives were wiped off the face of the earth because somebody said go and do it. We want to know why.”
Moira Casement, whose 89-year-old uncle Barney Green was the oldest victim, said the families were shocked and disgusted by revelations a police informer code-named ‘Mechanic’ was involved in preparations for the attack.
