Dermot Ahern to discuss collusion report with SDLP and SF

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern is due to meet representatives of Sinn Féin and the SDLP today to discuss the Police Ombudsman's report on collusion between the RUC and loyalist paramilitaries.

The Ombudsman has concluded that RUC Special Branch protected a loyalist gang responsible for up to 15 murders between 1991 and 2003 because its leader was a paid informer.

SDLP says it will be using today's meeting to discuss the need for both loyalists and police officers to face criminal prosecution in the wake of the report.

It also says it wants to emphasise the importance of giving the Ombudsman powers of scrutiny over the MI5 spy agency after it is given responsibility for intelligence-gathering in the North.

Sinn Féin's delegation today will be led by Martin McGuinness, who says he will be using the meeting to discuss the need for the Government to finally take decisive action on the collusion issue.