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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Ex-RUC chief urged to quit body | Ex-RUC chief urged to quit body |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Former RUC chief constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan is facing calls to quit the body which promotes police efficiency. | Former RUC chief constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan is facing calls to quit the body which promotes police efficiency. |
| NI's police ombudsman found officers colluded with loyalists behind over a dozen murders in north Belfast at a time when Sir Ronnie was in charge. | NI's police ombudsman found officers colluded with loyalists behind over a dozen murders in north Belfast at a time when Sir Ronnie was in charge. |
| SDLP leader Mark Durkan said: "Either he was not in control of a dysfunctional organisation, or he knew full well but kept the truth hidden. | SDLP leader Mark Durkan said: "Either he was not in control of a dysfunctional organisation, or he knew full well but kept the truth hidden. |
| "In either event, he should not head up the Inspectorate of Constabulary." | "In either event, he should not head up the Inspectorate of Constabulary." |
| The body reports on and encourages efficiency and effectiveness of policing in England, Wales and Northern Ireland | The body reports on and encourages efficiency and effectiveness of policing in England, Wales and Northern Ireland |
| On Monday, Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan's report said UVF members in the area committed murders and other serious crimes while working as informers for Special Branch. | On Monday, Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan's report said UVF members in the area committed murders and other serious crimes while working as informers for Special Branch. |
| Special Branch officers gave the killers immunity, it said. | Special Branch officers gave the killers immunity, it said. |
| The report called for a number of murder investigations to be re-opened. | The report called for a number of murder investigations to be re-opened. |
| The ombudsman looked into a number of murders | The ombudsman looked into a number of murders |
| But it is unlikely that any of the police officers involved will be prosecuted - the ombudsman said that evidence was deliberately destroyed to ensure there could not be prosecutions. | But it is unlikely that any of the police officers involved will be prosecuted - the ombudsman said that evidence was deliberately destroyed to ensure there could not be prosecutions. |
| Mrs O'Loan said Sir Ronnie was interviewed by her office, but was unable to assist the investigation. | Mrs O'Loan said Sir Ronnie was interviewed by her office, but was unable to assist the investigation. |
| Sir Ronnie led Special Branch before being promoted to chief constable. | Sir Ronnie led Special Branch before being promoted to chief constable. |
| He has clashed with Mrs O'Loan before, when her highly critical assessment of the RUC's inquiry into the 1998 Omagh bombing led him to say he would "publicly commit suicide" if he believed her report was correct. | He has clashed with Mrs O'Loan before, when her highly critical assessment of the RUC's inquiry into the 1998 Omagh bombing led him to say he would "publicly commit suicide" if he believed her report was correct. |
| 'Appalling and shameful' | |
| Meanwhile, the Policing Board, which holds to account the Police Service of Northern Ireland, is to hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss the damning report. | Meanwhile, the Policing Board, which holds to account the Police Service of Northern Ireland, is to hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss the damning report. |
| Board chairman Desmond Rea said: "The Police Service of Northern Ireland has embarked on the process of change. | Board chairman Desmond Rea said: "The Police Service of Northern Ireland has embarked on the process of change. |
| "It has dealt with many of these issues, and indeed, that is acknowledged by the ombudsman." | "It has dealt with many of these issues, and indeed, that is acknowledged by the ombudsman." |
| Dawn Purvis, the new leader of the Progressive Unionists - which is linked to the UVF - denied her party had any responsibility in relation to the O'Loan report. | |
| "This is not a case of the PUP shrugging this off. The PUP issued a statement yesterday which quite clearly said that the findings in the report were appalling and shameful," she told the BBC on Tuesday. | |
| "We need to face up to the fact that there are families to be considered in all this - families that are hurting and families that need closure. | |
| "The work of the PUP is to ensure that things like this never happen again." |