Britain must bite the bullet on loyalist collusion

SIR John Stevens has said he has found evidence of widespread collusion between the security forces and loyalist paramilitaries in the murder of Catholics in Northern Ireland.

He said he had uncovered enough evidence to believe that loyalist killings could have been prevented.

Sir Patrick Mayhew, as attorney general in Mrs Thatcher’s government, informed the House of Commons that it would not be in the public interest to press for prosecutions for those who conspired to prevent the course of justice.