Families reject report dismissing massacre collusion

RELATIVES of six men murdered by loyalist paramilitaries in the North 17 years ago yesterday rejected the findings of a fresh report into the massacre and accused police of colluding with the killers.

They believe that police inquiries into the 1994 Loughinisland pub shootings were impeded by the RUC’s desire to protect its informers in the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).

The report by Police Ombudsman Al Hutchinson identified failings in the police investigation after its disposal of the getaway car and the loss of some evidence but said there was insufficient evidence of collusion.

Moira Casement, niece of Barney Green, 87, one of the oldest people killed during the Troubles, disputed this, saying: “We feel that anyone who looks at the overwhelming evidence in this case with an open heart could come to no other conclusion than that there was collusion in the murder of our loved ones.”

Mr Green died in the shooting at the Heights Bar in rural Co Down as the pub was sprayed with bullets by UVF gunmen. Six people were killed and five injured as they watched the Republic of Ireland play Italy at World Cup 1994.

The others who died were Adrian Rogan, 34, Malcolm Jenkinson, 53, Daniel McCreanor, 59, Eamon Byrne, 39, and Patrick O’Hare, 35.

Relatives of the victims complained to the ombudsman in 2006 about the investigation which has seen 16 people arrested but no one convicted.

Emma Rogan, daughter of Adrian, said: “For 11 years after the murder of our loved ones, police did not even have the focus and strategy to keep us informed.”

The families’ solicitor, Niall Murphy, said: “Mr Hutchinson appears to have forgotten that the police ombudsman’s office was established for one reason and one reason only — to find the truth and report on it.”

The ombudsman said the disposal of the getaway car 10 months after the incident should not have taken place without the permission of murder detectives.

He also examined an allegation that a serving police officer was involved in storing vehicles used in the attack and he had passed on details of a witness to a member of the public. Both matters were investigated and no action was taken against the police officers.

It was later established that the gun used in the killings was linked to two other attacks. Mr Hutchinson said these issues were not investigated in a timely manner.

He said that police had demonstrated significant efforts to arrest suspects but failed to communicate effectively with victims.