Loughinisland Massacre In Focus

SDLP Leader and South Down MP Margaret Ritchie will meet the NI Police Ombudsman today regarding the report into the Loughinisland massacre.

The long-awaited report into the 1994 killings will be published shortly and will look at how six men - including an elderly 87-year-old man - were killed when two UVF gunmen sprayed The Heights Bar in the Co Down village with 200 bullets in June 1994 that also left five others injured.

Ms Ritchie (pictured) said: "We are awaiting the imminent publication of the Loughinisland Report which we have been told will be published in the week beginning 21 March.

"The families of those murdered have waited nearly 17 years for information about how and why their loved ones were murdered in such a barbaric way," she said.

"I hope that this report will reveal why this happened, and bring to light any evidence of collusion, MI5 involvement and, importantly, recommend the next steps in relation to prosecutions and obtaining justice for the families and their loved ones.

"The Loughinisland murders devastated our tight knit and harmonious local community, and after such a lengthy wait, and questionable delays on the release of this report, I hope that its release will begin the process of healing and not bring further frustration and grief to the families and our community," she concluded.

Earlier in February, the families of the victims of the loyalist massacre met Police Ombudsman Al Hutchinson to express their concern over the delay in publishing the report.

They have consistently maintained that there was security force collusion and that a number of agents working for the police were involved in the atrocity.

Speaking after that meeting, Sinn Fein South Down MLA Caitríona Ruane said: "The Loughinisland families have carried themselves with the utmost dignity and courage since that tragic night.

"I welcome the fact that after a needlessly ling delay the families were informed that the Report into the Loughlinisland Massacre will be handed over to the families."

Last year, a file was sent to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) to consider whether to press charges against a police officer involved in the case. He was alleged to have helped the UVF gunmen involved in the massacre.

The reservist, who was suspended by the PSNI, had been questioned over perverting the course of justice and helping the gang make its getaway after the shooting.

The decision was taken not to proceed with the prosecution.

In a statement, the PPS said there was "insufficient evidence to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction of the individual reported".

(BMcC/GK)