Families want UVF handlers prosecuted

Published Monday, 23 January 2012
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Families of UVF murder victims are demanding to know why no police officers have been prosecuted over the handling of loyalist informers - five years after a number of UVF men in north Belfast were exposed as police agents.

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Back in January 2007, then Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan published the findings of her probe into the activities of the UVF's Mount Vernon unit and reported that many members were informers.

"I want closure, I want justice - I'd like to see the handlers brought to book for their actions," Paul McKenna, whose sister was murdered by the UVF in 1993, told UTV.

"At present, there doesn't seem to be any willingness from the authorities to get us any closure."

The Historical Enquiries Team had been tasked with heading the investigations under the banner of Operation Ballast - but control was later to be handed back to the PSNI, in Operation Stafford.

"That's not what we wanted," Mr McKenna said.

Kieran Fox, whose father was murdered by the UVF in 1994, added: "We'd build up a trust with the HET that we want to get results but, five years on, it's like two steps forward and five back."

The first UVF supergrass trial in decades is currently before the courts, but the victims' families fear the investigation into alleged police misconduct has stalled.

"When Nuala O'Loan's report came out, we thought that was the end of cover-ups, but it seems to be going backwards," Mr Fox said.

The Police Ombudsman's office has confirmed a number of officers are under investigation - but refused to say how many or if any had been arrested.

A meeting between the families and Ombudsman's Office investigators will be held on Tuesday.

© UTV News
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7 Comments
lorna in limavady wrote (119 days ago):
Chris. So what you are saying is ALL X RUC members must leave the PSNI . You are saying all are guilty then even the RC officers who have experience beyond any in the PSNI . You reason being what ? becuse you believe all the RUC were Protestant . Or all had a hand in the supergrass' ? All are guilty and not able to be proved innocent. It was Special Branch when were the main handlers not the bobby on the street. Why did they need these people ? Well ! they helped prevent more killings BUT they had their own hatred and thoughts of vengence. and were hard to control. REMEMBER THIS. some of the IRA were supergrasses. When I see SF members in the dock then I will accept the handlers too. another thing I would like to see is ALL TAPES MADE BY TERRORISTS PUT INTO THE HANDS OF INVESTIGATERS . You simply cannot go after one side and let the other go scott free
stevie in belfast wrote (119 days ago):
@ P.M. Aye dead on, prosecute every last one of the scumbags. Name and shame those who were involved in collusion and murder and let the people decide what to do with them.
P.M in Belfast wrote (120 days ago):
In those days it was a case of fighting fire with fire. Wrong was done on both sides so I don't think dragging up this "they were the law and should know better" speech is beneficial. Do you think terrorists were going to be civil and "arrest" a cop when they went out to kill them? They went out to kill the services not to give them any chance of survival. Let sleeping dogs lie and get on with things...
Geno in Derry wrote (120 days ago):
Fair play to the families. No one should be above the law especially the RUC. They were paid by the state to protect the community, not to get involved with paramilitaries. They should hold their heads in shame. Its time the PSNI reconised this, step up to the mark and hold these members to the full extent of the law because the victims are not going away. Do the crime do the time.
noel in doire wrote (121 days ago):
wheressssssssss norman d
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