21/03/2007

Ombudsman report 'error riddled'

Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan has defended herself over allegations that her report into collusion was riddled with inaccuracies.

The Retired Police Officers’ Association has made claims that the report was “error riddled” with basic inaccuracies of fact and judgement.

The group, which represents 3,000 retired police officers, have demanded she apologise for the comments.

In the report, Nuala O’Loan revealed that RUC Special Branch officers had colluded with UVF members in north Belfast who were responsible for the killings of up to 16 people.

The Retired Police Officers' Association have now published a critique of the report, which accuses the ombudsman of misusing the word “collusion” in a way which had led to it being used as “a political catchphrase”.

(JM/KMcA)

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