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.

Mrs Thatcher went on record to state that murder was murder and there would be no hiding place for the perpetrators, but her backing for her attorney general revealed the hollowness of her commitment to justice and democracy.

Her tendency to see subversives behind even legitimate constitutional endeavour may explain her avowed endorsement of official terrorist counter-measures and misconduct within the RUC and the British army in the North.

Pat Finucane’s widow has demanded a full public inquiry as the only way forward.

She also mentioned how much former British prime ministers, Northern secretaries and RUC chief constables knew about security force collusion in the murder of her husband.

By failing to face up to their responsibilities the British authorities are ignoring the demands of justice and making progress towards reconciliation much more difficult.

Michael J Stokes,

2, Willington Green,

Templeogue,

Dublin 6W.