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La famiglia di Tommy English cita in giudizio la PSNI

Tommy English family to sue PSNI

The family of murdered loyalist paramilitary chief Tommy English are suing the PSNI over the alleged failure to take action against a police agent linked to 10 killings.

Tommy EnglishLawsuits have been brought by his widow and children based on a watchdog report which identified collusion between some rogue officers and terrorist killers.

They are claiming misfeasance in public office against the Chief Constable for the force not taking steps to prevent the October 2000 shooting.

With criminal proceedings ended following the acquittal of nine men for the English murder, the civil action was fixed for a High Court hearing next year.

Mr Justice Gillen told legal representatives: “This has all the hallmarks of a case that’s going to limp on for years, and I’m not going to let that happen.”

Mr English, a UDA leader, was gunned down by rival UVF men at his Newtownabbey home near north Belfast in October 2000.

Lawyers representing his widow, Doreen, and their children have focused on a major report by former Police Ombudman Nuala O’Loan.

In 2007 she found that police protected a north Belfast UVF unit responsible for up to 10 murders.

At the centre of the legal action is the alleged role of member of that gang identified only as Informant Number One.

It is claimed that the Ombudsman report links this agent to 10 murders before the English assassination.

Had proper action been taken against him sooner he would not have been free to plot the killing, according to the case being made out.

In court on Monday it was confirmed that civil proceedings can now press ahead.

A solicitor for Mrs English told the judge he was still seeking discovery of documents as part of his preparations.

The material being sought is understood to include all available Special Branch records.

Mr Justice Gillen will not decide the civil action because he sat in the UVF supergrass trial and cleared those charged with the English murder.

But he has responsibility for pre-trial management of the legal paperwork. In court he insisted: “This death occurred in 2000. People should be ready.”

The judge fixed the case for a week-long hearing next March.

Police Ombudsman Ballast Report

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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