Board Seeks Baggott Meeting Over McGurk's

The NI Policing Board is to discuss the PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott's overnight statement that "all lines of enquiry had now been exhausted" into the McGurk's Bar bomb atrocity in 1971.

Speaking about the publication of yesterday's Police Ombudsman's report, the Acting Chair of the Board, Brian Rea said: "The Chief Constable has made a statement on the Police Ombudsman's Report and the Board will wish to discuss this with him at its next meeting."

This was prefaced by the comment: "First and foremost our thoughts are with the families of those who lost loved ones in the McGurk's bar bombing, those who were injured and those who survived this terrible attack."

The bomb exploded at the bar at Great George's Street in north Belfast killing 15, including three women and two children, and injuring more than 16 others.

In the aftermath, RUC officers briefed politicians and the media that the atrocity was an IRA 'own goal' when in fact loyalists were responsible.

Now, the grandson of the bar owners has said Mr Baggott's response was unacceptable.

Chris McGurk, who lost his grandmother, great uncle and aunt in the blast, said this was far short of what the families wanted to hear from the PSNI chief (pictured).

"One of the official recommendations that the Police Ombudsman makes is that the Chief Constable should acknowledge the pain and hurt that the police caused and he hasn't done this," Mr McGurk said.

"If David Cameron, the Prime Minister, can apologise in relation to Bloody Sunday, then it should not be beyond Mr Baggott to apologise in this instance," he told the BBC yesterday.

However, he remains 'vindicated' and said: "At the end of the day, the official findings are there - the police were biased and we do feel vindicated by this," he said.

In 1978, UVF member Robert Campbell was convicted of his part in the attack.

On Monday, Police Ombudsman Al Hutchinson said the RUC was so focused on the idea that the IRA was responsible that it did not properly probe loyalist involvement.

In response, Mr Baggott said that several other reports had reached difference conclusions from Mr Hutchinson.

However, he added that it was the police's "unequivocal view that none of the victims were in any way involved in causing this atrocity" and passed on his sympathy to survivors and the victims' families.

"In conclusion, no investigation is ever closed whilst there remains the possibility of new evidence," he said.

"Sadly, however, it is my view that there appear to be no further investigative opportunities available.

"At present, all lines of inquiry have been exhausted but we will discuss any future opportunities with the Ombudsman," the PSNI boss said.

Yesterday's second Police Ombudsman's report into the 1971 bombing of McGurk's bar has been on the agenda at the Northern Ireland Assembly. DUP Assembly Member for North Belfast Nelson McCausland MLA said: "I hope (it) will bring some closure to the families of those who lost their lives in that incident. The report provides additional clarity around how the events of that day unfolded and the context in which they occurred. Most significantly this second report found there was absolutely no evidence at all of collusion between the police and the terrorists responsible for the deaths that day," he said, but noted there are many hundreds of people have never been given "full disclosure or information about the circumstances around the murder of their loved ones".

A DUP Member of the NI Policing Board, Jimmy Spratt MLA said: "There are crucial questions that the Police Ombudsman will have to answer.

"Firstly, what prompted his decision to re-write the report and what material considerations were brought to his attention that prompted the commissioning of a second report?

"Secondly what new evidence has he received since the publication of the initial report? Thirdly has he presented that new evidence to the police and will he make it public?

"If the Ombudsman is to escape the charge that he has been forced in to a U-turn by political pressure, he will need to deal with these questions.

"For our part, the DUP is clear that where any new evidence is brought forward that could secure convictions people should be prosecuted", said the MLA.

Also today, the Alliance Justice Spokesperson Stephen Farry MLA has commented: "This report raises serious issues regarding how the police operated and conducted investigations in the early 1970s. These conclusions no doubt reinforce the pain of those who lost loved ones in this atrocity and my thoughts are with them.

"Some very small consolation can be found in the fact that policing in Northern Ireland has changed dramatically.

"This report also illustrates the genuine need for a comprehensive process to be put in place to deal with the past, and this needs to be done as quickly as possible," he said.

See: IRA Focus 'Harmed 70s Bomb Investigation'

(BMcC/GK)