The North’s deputy chief constable has rejected claims officers have deliberately delayed the disclosure of top secret material for legacy inquests to protect former colleagues.

Controversial reports into alleged British security force “shoot-to-kill” deaths in the North should be released to the victims’ families, the High Court ruled today.

Police in the North are to comply with a court order to hand over top secret reports on an alleged officer shoot-to-kill policy during the Troubles, a senior commander revealed today.

A Belfast coroner today gave the North's Chief Constable seven weeks to hand over top secret reports on an alleged police shoot-to-kill policy during the Troubles.

Top secret reports into allegations the security forces operated a shoot-to-kill policy in the North more than two decades ago are finally to be opened to the North's chief coroner, it was revealed today.