Charlotte Morrissey's dad Joseph was one of around 30 victims believed to have been tortured and killed in north Belfast by the gang during the 1970s.

Led by Lenny Murphy, they stalked the streets at night and preyed on those who were alone and vulnerable - both Catholics and Protestants.

In February 1977, Joseph Morrissey became one of the last of their targets when he was dragged into the back of a car as he walked home along the Antrim Road.

His battered body was later found dumped near a community centre on the Forthriver Road, after he suffered the most horrific death.

But Charlotte, who was 21 at the time, believes her father's murder could have been prevented, and she has taken her case to the High Court.

Now she is suing police because she thinks the killers could have been stopped much sooner.

"Today is a very big day for our family," she told UTV, "because we are issuing a legal writ against the Chief Constable.

We feel the RUC at the time let us down, all the investigative authorities let us down - we believe daddy's death could have been prevented.

Charlotte Morrissey

By the time Joseph Morrissey was killed, ringleader Murphy was in jail on weapons charges but was still telling his henchmen what to do.

It was at the height of the Troubles and police resources were stretched to their limits.

In May 1977 officers finally got a breakthrough. A survivor was able to identify his attackers and 11 loyalists were given life sentences - almost 2,000 years between them.

But Murphy, who was later murdered, and two other players were never prosecuted.

Detective Chief Inspector Jimmy Nesbitt, who was charged with catching those responsible, insists police did all they could to catch the butchers sooner.

"I worked with a team of totally professional detectives and we did absolutely everything in our power to catch these people," Mr Nesbitt told UTV.

"I am confident there are no failings in our investigation.

"We had patrols out but if they saw anyone they would abandon their mission and they only operated when there were no witnesses.

"We had looked at all possible suspects but we had no idea who was carrying out these crimes."

But Charlotte Morrissey isn't convinced.

The writ issued against the police alleges missed opportunities that could have prevented the killings - that they knew as early as 1973 that Lenny Murphy was a murderer, and that police failed to act when Murphy was handing out instructions from his prison cell.

Now Charlotte feels it is time for closure and has vowed to fight for answers.

She said: "When the details came through of what had happened to him that was when - while dad had been a victim of this psychopathic gang, when he died we became the victims.

"I will fight on for as long as it takes for justice to be done, for the Chief Constable to explain to me why when daddy's death was so preventable, why was it not prevented?"

Detective Chief Inspector Jimmy Nesbitt says he is willing to speak to the family.