British Army were in league with UDA

A BRITISH Army unit collaborated with loyalist paramilitaries to target both suspected IRA members and Catholics, according to a report to be published this month.

The report by the head of London’s Metropolitan Police, Sir John Stevens, into the collusion allegations concludes the Army’s Force Research Unit (FRU) ran an operation in the late 1980s and early 1990s that resulted in a number of murders.

Its activities were not known to political leaders, including then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, or even the Joint Intelligence Committee, the umbrella body for all security agencies working in the North.

One of those murdered as a result of FRU collusion with Ulster Defence Association intelligence officer Brian Nelson was high profile solicitor Pat Finucane, shot 14 times in front of his family at his North Belfast home in 1989. His family, who have called for a public inquiry into his death, and others, are waiting for the published report before commenting. However, sources close to the family said they are not prepared to believe those “at the top of the pyramid” did not know what was going on.

Criminal charges may be brought against members of the security forces, including senior army officer Brigadier Gordon Kerr, head of the FRU at the time, and now military attache to the British embassy in Beijing. The report will not question his motivation, while he says the FRU was trying to save innocent lives.

“He was doing what he thought was best, but he didn’t prohibit his soldiers from this activity,” an inquiry insider told London’s Daily Telegraph.

Relatives of victims murdered by the UDA after information was passed on by the army unit believe Brig Kerr’s only defence, in any criminal trial, would be that he revealed details of the operations at JIC meetings. It is claimed by senior commanders they knew Brig Kerr was running a covert operation, but were unaware of the details. They will be criticised for failing to inspect the unit’s activities.

Friends of Mr Finucane’s family said a criminal trial will centre on the guilt or innocence of one person but will shed little light about how the whole operation worked and whether it was a conspiracy at the highest level.

The leaked report claims the FRU passed information identifying alleged terrorists to loyalist gunmen principally through Brian Nelson. The information included a photograph provided by the security forces showing Mr Finucane with a suspected IRA activist as well as the names and addresses of others, some of whom had no paramilitary links. One of those alleged to have been targeted with help from the FRU was Sinn Féin’s Alex Maskey, Belfast’s lord mayor, who survived after being shot on the doorstep of his West Belfast home.

Sir John’s report, due for publication on April 17, is expected to say that procedures and the lines of accountability were poor and should be improved and clarified. The police chief also believes his inquiry was deliberately obstructed in its early stages by both the police and the army.