Police failed to warn loyalist targets about threats

There has been a furious reaction in the North following revelations that more than 250 people under threat from loyalists during the Troubles were never warned by the police that their lives were in danger.

The revelation was made yesterday at the public inquiry into the murder of LVF leader Billy Wright.

Vincent McFadden, a senior investigator with the Stevens Inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane, said some of the 250 loyalist targets who were not given warnings were later killed or injured.

The SDLP says the failure of the authorities to pass on warnings is deeply shocking.