Family of Loughgall victim to meet PSNI chief constable

The family of an IRA man shot dead by British soldiers 17 years ago is due to meet PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde today to discuss the case.

Patrick Kelly was one of eight IRA activists shot dead in an SAS ambush in Loughgall, Co Armagh, on May 8, 1987. A civilian passer-by was also killed.

The eight-man IRA unit was ambushed after carrying out a bomb attack on the local RUC station.

The incident fuelled allegations of a “shoot-to-kill” policy by the British security services in the North.

The Kelly family said it would be asking Mr Orde today why the IRA men were not arrested when this would clearly have been possible.

The European Court of Human Rights has already ruled that the men’s right to life was violated.