Sinn Fein seeks inquiry into death squads claim

An independent public inquiry should be set up to investigate claims that the British intelligence conspired with loyalist death squads to target republicans, Sinn Fein said today.

Delegates at the party’s annual conference in Dublin backed a motion calling for a probe into the Force Research Unit (FRU), which allegedly operated throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The call came following recent claims in the media that:

:: FRU agents infiltrated, armed and controlled loyalist paramilitary squads in Northern Ireland

:: Some agents, working in the RUC, passed on the details of nationalists and republicans to loyalists

:: Nationalists and republicans were targeted by loyalists after being identified by the FRU

:: Agents routinely crossed the border for spying missions in the Republic.

Sinn Fein called for a ‘‘comprehensive inquiry’’ to investigate to what extent there was collusion between the secret services and loyalist paramilitaries.

Mary Nelis, Northern Ireland Assembly member for Foyle, called for the inquiry to work along the lines of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa.

Speaking after the motion passed in the conference hall, she said: ‘‘We want to know were there direct political decisions and directions from Government through the security services?

‘‘The inquiry has to be as far reaching as possible with very strict guidelines.

‘‘We need something along the lines of the truth commission in South Africa but it needs to be instigated by the British Government.

She added: ‘‘The allegations are not just Republican propaganda. The allegations are coming from such eminent angles, such as the United Nations and Amnesty International.’’

During the conference delegates also passed motions renewing calls for inquiries into the killings of human rights lawyers Rosemary Nelson and Pat Finucane.

Both represented republicans in Belfast and were targeted by loyalist hit squads.

There were further allegations of collusion between the loyalists and security services relating to their deaths.

And there were conference calls for an inquiry into the death of Robert Hamill, a Portadown Catholic who died after being beaten by loyalists, allegedly in full view of RUC officers who failed to intervene.