Il rapporto del Police Ombudsman sulla gestione del massacro di Loughinisland di 17 anni fa ha trovato omissioni nelle indagini
Gli errori includono la distruzione non autorizzata dell’auto usata per la fuga dagli assassini e la mancanza di indagini su presunti collegamenti tra il massacro di Loughinisland e altri attacchi terroristici.
La sera del 18 giugno 1994, uomini armati della UVF aprirono il fuoco all’Heights Bar di Loughinisland, mentre gli avventori guardavano l’Irlanda sconfiggere l’Italia alla Coppa del Mondo di calcio.
Sei cattolici furono assassinati, compreso Barney Green, 87 anni, la vittima più anziana di tutti i Troubles.
Nel 2006 le famiglie dell vittime chiesero al Police Ombudsman di fare luce sulle indagini fatte dalla RUC all’epoca dei fatti.
Dall’attacco sono state arrestate 16 persone, ma nessuno è mai stato formalmente accusato per la strage.
In un comunicato, la PSNI dice di accettare le raccomandazioni del Police Ombudsman, compresa la richiesta al Comandante della polizia di commissionare una revisione completa degli omicidi.
L’avvocato delle famiglie delle sei vittime afferma che i parenti sono devastati dai risultati del rapporto sull’indagine della polizia.
Niall Murphy ha parlato dopo l’incontro tra le famiglie e il Police Ombudsman, Al Hutchinson.
Murphy conferma che la campagna portata avanti dai familiari continuerà.
Le famiglie sanno più cose, adesso, ma non pensano che la verità sia emersa nel rapporto, definito “timido, mite e mansueto”.
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Loughinisland inquiry highlights RUC failings
A report by Northern Ireland’s Police Ombudsman into the RUC’s handling of the Loughinisland atrocity 17 years ago has found there were failings in the police investigation into the murders.
Failures include the unauthorised destruction of the killers’ get-away car and the failure to investigate properly the link between the Loughlinisland shootings and other terrorist attacks.
Al Hutchinson’s report says the original police inquiry lacked ‘effective leadership and investigative diligence’, but adds there is ‘insufficient’ evidence of collusion between the group behind the attack and the security forces.
On the night of 18 June 1994, UVF gunmen opened fire at the Heights Bar in Loughlinisland as customers were watching Ireland beat Italy in the World Cup.
Six Catholic men were killed, including 87-year-old Barney Green, one of the oldest people to be murdered during the Troubles.
In 2006 the victims’ families asked Northern Ireland’s Police Ombudsman to investigate their concerns over the RUC’s original investigation.
Since the attack 16 people have been arrested, some more than once, but no one has ever been convicted.
In a statement, the PSNI said it accepted the recommendations of the Ombudsman, including the call for the Chief Constable to commission a full major crime review of the murders.
The solicitor for the families of the six victims said they are devastated by the findings of the report into the police investigation.
Niall Murphy was speaking following a meeting between the families and Al Hutchinson this morning.
A large number of the family members turned out for the meeting.
Mr Murphy said the families’ campaign for justice for their loved ones would continue.
He said they know more today, but did not ‘believe the truth’ had emerged in the report.
He described the report as ‘timid, mild and meek’.
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