Police Colluded With Loyalists In Loughisland Massacre - Report

Police officers colluded with loyalist gunmen who murdered six Catholics as they watched a football match, according to a report by the Police Ombudsman.

In June 1994 two gunmen shot the victims at the Heights Bar in Loughinisland, Co Down.

Those murdered were Adrian Rogan, Malcolm Jenkinson, Daniel McCreanor, Patrick O'Hare, Eamon Byrne, and Barney Greene.

No one has ever been convicted of the killings.

The report found that police informants at the most senior levels within Loyalist paramilitary organisations were involved in an importation of guns and ammunition into Northern Ireland in the eighties.

Police figures also indicated that the unrecovered weapons from the importation were used in a least 70 murders and attempted murders.

Police Ombudsman, Dr Michael Maguire, said: "We have seen occasions when informants contributed to both the saving of life and the loss of life.

"The report evidences instances when police were content not to ask these people for information about serious crime: instances when people volunteered such information and police chose not to act upon it and instances when informants were protected from investigation.

"Some police officers appeared to have placed more value on gathering information and protecting their sources that on the prevention and detection of crime."

The report lists a number of fundamental failings in the investigation, including the forensic strategy,  enquiries to find out more about the getaway car and those connected to it, enquiries to find witnesses and in the strategy for making arrests. 

Dr Maguire said: "This was a 'hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil' approach to the use of some informants, which potentially frustrated the police investigation.

"When viewed collectively, I have no hesitation in saying collusion was a significant feature of the Loughinisland murders."

Chief Constable George Hamilton said the report made "uncomfortable reading".

Mr Hamilton said: "This is totally unacceptable and those responsible should be held accountable. I want to reassure the families and the public that I have co-operated fully with the Ombudsman and I will continue to do so if he determines to take this further. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment in detail, pending the outcome of any potential further criminal investigation by the Ombudsman on this matter."

Sinn Féin MLA Chris Hazzard described the scale of collusion as "shocking".

Mr Hazzard said: "This report from the Police Ombudsman into the Loughinisland massacre reveals the undeniable and shocking scale of collusion between British agents, the RUC and the UVF gang who carried out the attack. 

"Dr Michael Maguire said in his report that he has 'no hesitation in unambiguously determining that collusion is a significant feature of the Loughinisland murders.

"The local community has always known about the collusion in the massacre.

"I welcome this report from the Ombudsman and pay tribute to the courage and determination of the Loughinisland families."

(CD)